Li Pingqian (1902 – 18 November 1984), also known as Jack Pingqian Li, was a Chinese filmmaker who directed over 100 films in his career in mainland China and Hong Kong. He is probably best known for his works with actresses Gong Qiuxia and Xia Meng, who each starred in more than a dozen of his films. Moreover, his 1964 Huangmei opera film Three Charming Smiles starring Chen Sisi was a huge hit in China.
Life Li was born in Hangzhou and was originally given the name Chunchou. He moved to Shangai in the 1920s to begin a career in filmmaking after leaving Hujiang University in 1919, where he studied sociology but did not graduate. In 1924, he co-founded Shenzhou Film Company with Wu Xuchang. The company went bankrupt in 1927 and Li joined Tianyi Film Company. He eventually moved on to Mingxing Film Company, until that was destroyed by Japanese bombardments during World War II.
In the 1950s, Li moved to Hong Kong and became directing Cantonese films for companies such as Yonghua and Great Wall Film Company.
Many of Li's earlier works are lost.
Filmography As actor YearEnglish titleOriginal titleRoleDirectorNotes1925Unbearable Memories不堪回首Zhu WenguangLostWedding Day佳期LostThe Night with the Full Moon花好月圆Lost1926Embarrassing Sister難為了妹妹Lost1927A Crushing Blow劉關張大破黃巾LostThe Female Lawyer女律師Lost1928Precious Ruby紅寶石LostStories of Sherlock Holmes福爾摩斯偵探案Sherlock HolmesLost1955It So Happens to a Woman我是一個女人
As director YearEnglish titleChinese titleNotes1926Embarrassing Sister難為了妹妹Also actorMy Good Boy好兒子Co-director1927Princess Iron Fan鐵扇公主Co-directorNew Camellia新茶花Maiden in Armour花木蘭從軍Wails to Pagoda仕林祭塔Co-directorLadies Kingdom西遊記·女兒國Co-director1928The Lotus Cave蓮花洞Also writerPrecious Ruby紅寶石Two-part film, also writer and actor1929Emperor Qianlong Tours the South Part III乾隆遊江南第3集Lonely Swan After the Calamity劫後孤鴻Also writerWarnings for the Lovers情慾寶鑑Flowers Platform on Fire火燒百花臺Two-part film1930Yang Yunyou and Dong Qichang楊雲友與董其昌The Queen of College Students大學皇后Two-part film1931Between Themselves夫妻之間Stories of Sherlock Holmes福爾摩斯偵探案Also actorArsène Lupin亞森羅賓Emperor Qianlong Tours the South Part VIII乾隆遊江南第8集Emperor Qianlong Tours the South Part IX乾隆遊江南第9集Pleasures of the Dance Hall歌唱春色1932Miss Shanghai Han Xiuwen上海小姐韓繡雯Two Daughters of the Northeast東北二女子Old and New Problems舊恨新愁Poetry Written on the Banana Leaf芭蕉葉上詩A Married Woman有夫之婦1933A Modern Woman現代一女性Good Harvest豐年Sons and Daughters of the Times時代的兒女The Spring Dream of the Lute琵琶春怨Also writer1934Three Sisters三姊妹Also co-writerThe Classic for Girls女兒經Co-director1935Ardent, Loyal Souls民族魂Co-directorHuman Being人倫Also writer1936The Battle Between Peach and Plum桃李爭艷Also writerRendezvous夜會1937The Flower Blossoms and Wilts花開花落1938A Pair in Love鳳求凰Camille茶花女Also writer1939The World of Money金銀世界The Imperial Maid Fei Zhen'e費貞娥刺虎Also writerThe Young Mistress' Fan少奶奶的扇子Regrets of Life and Death生死恨Also writer1940Du Shiniang杜十娘Also writerHongxian Steals the Case紅線盜盒1941The Living Way生路The Family家Co-directorWhere Will You Go生離死別Also writerThe Brave Lady英烈傳Also writerThe Widow風流寡婦King of the Inferno地藏王1942Compassion博愛Co-directorA Distinguished Lady貴婦風流Also writerFour Sisters四姊妹Also writerTwo Guys and a Girl歡喜冤家Also writer1943Gratitude and Vengeance of Actors藝海恩仇記Also writerThe Fight over a Child桃李爭春Floating Clouds Cover the Moon浮雲掩月Madam Butterfly蝴蝶夫人1944Song from Another Heaven天外笙歌Drifting Petals惜花飞1945New Year Day萬戶更新Co-director1947Mother and Son母與子Spring over the Lake湖上春痕Also writerHang on to Your Relatives裙帶風1948The Murderer兇手Catch the Dream春歸何處1949Our Husband春雷Also writer1950A Strange Woman一代妖姬The Awful Truth說謊世界1951A Night-Time Wife禁婚記1952Blossoms in the Heart百花齊放A Bachelor Is Born方帽子City Adventure蜜月1953Marriage Affair門Day Dream白日夢Parents' Love寸草心The Peerless Beauty絕代佳人1954Tales of the City都會交響曲1955It So Happens to a Woman我是一個女人Also actor1956The Three Loves三戀1957Escape into Trap逆旅風雲Forever Waiting望夫山下1958Miss Fragrance香噴噴小姐The Green Swan Club綠天鵝夜總會1960Girl on the Front Page新聞人物Laugh, Clown, Laugh笑笑笑Rendezvous佳人有約1961The Seaman and the Dancing Girl華燈初上A Dazzling Trap迷魂阱1962The Princess Falls in Love三看御妹劉金定Yue opera film1963Between Vengeance and Love雪地情仇1964Three Charming Smiles三笑Huangmei opera film1965Romantic World艷遇A Heroic Romance烽火姻緣Yue opera film
In popular culture In the 2008 Chinese TV series Zhao Dan (赵丹), Li Pingqian is portrayed by actor Meng Jun (孟俊).
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