Wang Naidong ( 20th century), also known as Lyton Wong, was a Chinese actor active from 1925 to 1957 in the cinema of Shanghai and British Hong Kong. He starred in many silent films produced by Great China Lilium Pictures (大中華百合影片公司), but is probably best remembered today for playing the male lead in the 1935 Lianhua Film Company classic New Women opposite Ruan Lingyu.
Life Wang Naidong was born either in Nanking, or Hankou, Hubei, at an unknown date between 1898-1900 into a relatively wealthy family; his father, Wang Siming, served as a general in the Han Green Standard Army. His family also managed a tea export business. Wang had five siblings and received his education at Wuhan No. 7 Western School. He trained in traditional Chinese theatre under Chu Shen-Wei and began performing in local cabarets and theatres at age 16. He also worked as a middle school teacher for some time.
Wang began his film career in 1925, appearing in minor roles in silent films. His first credited appearances included Mother’s Happiness (1926) and The Miserable Life of Qiu Xiang (1926). He gained recognition with the lead role in Don’t Change Your Husband (1929).
During the 1930s and early 1940s, Wang appeared in several notable films, including New Women (1935), Song of Everlasting Regret (1936), Maiden in Armour (1939), Dayu Sha Jia (1940), and Qiu Haitang (1943). He collaborated with directors such as Cai Chusheng, Shi Dongshan, and Bu Wancang, and worked alongside actresses including Ruan Lingyu.
Amid the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, Wang relocated to Hong Kong around 1941, where he acted in films such as The Marriage Trap (1941), Song Girl Red Peony (1941), and A Prostitute and a General (1941). He also participated in theater troupes during wartime production halts. His last known film role was in Love of Fermented Rice (1944), and he served as producer for The Perfect Beauty (1940). Wang Naidong joined the South China Star Drama Troupe in January 1942, and was a primary actor. During the Japanese occupation, he unwillingly collaborated, which led the Kuomintang to issue a death warrant should he return to China. After the war, Wang's life is obscure, with his last known role was Sar Kua Chew Ai (1957). It was frequently thought he disappeared from records after 1944.
Filmography YearEnglish titleOriginal titleRoleNotes1923The Widow Wants to Remarry古井重波記1925Catkin Sorrow楊花恨1926Debt Circles連環債Mother's Happiness兒孫福Second sonFamily's Heirloom傳家寶Wu MutianMa Jiefu馬介甫Ma JiefuVisiting the In-Laws探親家Wang Zhiyi1927Sex Trap美人計Four Heroes of the Wangs王氏四俠Redress a Grievance烏盆記Liu Shichang's soulThe Miserable Life of Qiu Xiang可憐的秋香Qiu Sheng1928A Shanghai Dancing-Girl上海一舞女That Is Me就是我The Ridiculous Swordsman荒唐劍客1929Don't Change Your Husband情海重吻Qiping1934Floating Flowers飛花村Women女人Ji Juesheng1935New Women新女性Dr. WangLady Pear Blossom梨花夫人Man at Birth人之初Huang ZijingBurden of Living生之哀歌Hero of the Times時事英雄Tempest暴風雨1936Bloodshed on a Wedding新婚大血案Song of Regret長恨歌Yu PeilanTomboy化身姑娘Yuan BaojunTomboy 2化身姑娘續集1937A Mystical Flower神秘之花All Loves滿園春色Lovers海天情侶The Big Robbery No.303三零三大劫案Night Rains at Xiaoxiang瀟湘夜雨1938Women女人A Pair in Love鳳求凰1939The Love of a Woman潘巧雲Yang XiongGroans and Struggles碧玉雄心Wang ZhiqunMysterious Lady神秘夫人A Fair Actress影城記Guan PengXiang Yu the Conqueror楚霸王Zhang LiangApe in Disguise化身人猿Tomboy 3化身姑娘第三集Tomboy 4化身姑娘第四集Hong Kong Song Girl香江歌女1940The Adventures of Chinese Tarzan中國泰山歷險記The Perfect Beauty絕代佳人Li Zichengalso producerRevolt of the Fishing Folks打漁殺家The Gardener and a Lady薛仁貴與柳迎春1941The Marriage Trap美人計Liu BeiA Prostitute and a General賽金花Alfred von WalderseeThe Sparrow Flies East and South孔雀東南飛Ancient Kingdom of Human Freaks古國人妖Song Girl Red Peony歌女紅牡丹1943Under the Roofs of Shanghai上海屋簷下Peach Blossom Pond桃花潭水Torrent激流The Story of Qiu Haitang秋海棠Yuan Shaowen2-part film1944The Hero and the Beauty英雄美人Love of Fermented Rice麴海情濤Return of the Phoenix鳳還巢
References
External links