The Divine Stranger-China’s Red Heroine
The Divine Strangers-Supernatural Warriors for Justice in Early Chinese Cinema
Before there were The Eternals there were The Divine, Strange, Martial Arts Heroes. They resided in the desolate reaches of China, but were always ready to seek justice and take on the minions of evil warlords. And occasionally serve as matchmakers.
They developed their craft under the tutelage of an old hermit-the Monkey King, and others like him. In China their tales were told in countless movies in the late 1920s.
But only one such movie survived Kuomintang censorship, Communist purification, brutal wars, and the natural decomposition of the film-stock.
The purest and most righteous of all the Superheroes, The Red Heroine, survives. Under The Red Heroine’s instruction, Hue Mu Lan learned deception and flattery, as well as archery and swordsmanship.
A new era of film began in 1930 in Kuomintang China. A new Motion Picture Code became law. It sought to ban heresy and lewd action on screen. It banned “Shanghai Express”, but it banned “Alice in Wonderland” and Frankenstein”, too.
It affected every major motion picture shot in the US-or rather every one the Kuomintang and its layers of generals and advisors wanted to influence.
It affected your memory. It affected history.
Existential threats to China lurked from within and without in the 1930s. Attacking movies, and, in particular, movie actresses was thus of prime importance to the Nationalist Government.
The Red Heroine made shame for China. Anna May Wong made shame for China. So it was proclaimed.
The Code is gone, The Red Heroine survived and instructed the heroines of a 100 movies, like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “House of Flying Daggers”. She is the first Wonder Woman.
And Anna May Wong is finally in the money. Or at least on it.
Eloquently written and informative , Anna Mae Wong was truly the first onscreen “ Wonder Woman !” Thank you , Tom !