Chinese name 卜萬蒼 (traditional) Name Bu Wancang Chinese name 卜万苍 (simplified) Role Film director | Occupation Film director Died 1974, Hong Kong Years active 1920s-1960s | |
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Movies Love and Duty, A Spray of Plum Blossoms, Diao Chan, Peach Blossom Weeps T, Mulan Joins the Army Similar People Ruan Lingyu, Jin Yan, Ma‑Xu Weibang, Lai Man‑Wai, Hu Die | ||
Bu Wancang (simplified Chinese: 卜万苍; traditional Chinese: 卜萬蒼; pinyin: Bǔ Wàncāng) (1903–1974) was a prolific Chinese film director and screenwriter active between the 1920s and the 1960s. He is also known by his Cantonese name, Baak Maan Chong, and his English name, Richard Poh. He was born in Anhui.
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Career
Originally a member of the Shanghai cinema scene, Bu worked for several studios before becoming a major director for the Mingxing Film Company. By 1931, Bu moved to Mingxing's rival, Lianhua, where he directed such films as Love and Duty (1931) and Peach Blossom Weeps Tears of Blood (1931) (both with actress Ruan Lingyu).
As the war with Japan intensified Bu made several films with subtle patriotic themes, most notably 1939's Mulan Joins the Army. Once Japanese control over Shanghai was complete, however, Bu was eventually forced to make several propaganda films for the occupiers, notably Eternity in 1943. After the war, he was ostracized by his colleagues for these films, causing him to move to Hong Kong in 1948 where he continued to make films until his retirement.