Ruan Lingyu

완령옥은 1910년 상해에서 태어나 16세에 영화계에 데뷔, 19세에 상해의 영화사 연화에 입사했다. 그녀의 섹시한 매력과 기품있는 미모는 감독들의 눈에 띄었으며 영화에 출연 후 스타덤에 올랐다. 그녀는 비극의 여주인공 역을 주로 맡았다. 그러나 인기가 절정에 달했을 때인 25세에 자살하고 말았다. 그리고 그녀는 절설적인 존재가 되고 만다. 완령옥은 자산가의 아들 장달민과 친밀한 관계였다. 그러나 달민 부모의 반대로 결혼은 하지 못했다. 전쟁의 불안과 긴장이 중국일대에 널리 펴져 있을 때 홍콩에 연화촬영소 일행과 함께 있던 완령옥은 상해에서 기다리고 있는 모친과 양녀 소옥을 걱정했다. 그때 그녀를 위로 해 주었던 사람이 당계산 이었다. 완령옥은 자신이 하고싶은 배역이 있으면 어떻게 해서든지 하고마는 끈질긴 성격을 가지고 있었다. "3개 마등여성"도 그녀의 끈질긴 교섭으로 배역을 얻어내었던 것이다. 완령옥은 자신이 연기했던 배역과는 대조적으로 여려서 상처받기 쉬운 성격이었다. 그녀는 당계산을 사랑하고 그에게 의지했지만 그가 그녀를 사랑하면서도 부인과는 이혼할 의사가 없다는 것을 알고 절망했다. 그녀는 당과 동거생활을 시작한지 1년만에 자살하고, 당은 후년 대만에서 사업에 실패하고 노쇠하여 죽는다.

In 1930, two sisters from the countryside, the serious Zhang Lan (Ruan Lingyu) and the frivolous Zhang Tao graduate from the secondary school where their mother Zhang Jie serves as principal. They both love their cousin Zuo, but have ambitions other than marriage. Their lives change dramatically when both attend university in Shanghai and encounter modern urban life and rapidly changing society. The film also depicts the emergence of Chiang Kai-shek's 1934 New Life Movement. Lianhua Film Studio did the film to appease the Nationalist Party which accused it of primarily presenting left-wing films, which was true.

Overnight, the sexy Wei Ming will become a successful novelist. But, desperate to get the money that she needs to cure her little daughter (and harassed by a rich, unscrupulous rake), she will end up eventually engage in luxury prostitution.

A young prostitute, who is trying to give her infant son a good start in life, must contend with a coercive pimp and the prejudices of others.

A young peasant woman becomes a Buddhist nun twice to return -also twice- to her regular life.

Sister Ye lives in a rural village, where everyone makes traditional toys. When Sister Ye's husband dies of an unknown illness, and while Ye is attending to him, her son is kidnapped and sold to a wealthy lady in the city of Shanghai. Shortly after, the village is destroyed during an attack between rival warlords, forcing the villagers move to the city, where they continue to make toys. Ten years pass, and Ye's daughter Zhu'er has become a toy designer. While helping the Nationalist army at the rear, Zhu'er is killed in an attack by the Japanese. On New Year's Eve, Sister Ye is dressed in rags, sitting on the curb, selling toys. A young boy buys toys from her, and it is none other than her son, whom she does not recognize.

An upper-class son of urbane landowners falls in love with a peasant girl. When a pregnancy results, the couple are kept apart by strict societal morays.

Bai Le De and Hu Lun tung are military cadets. After graduating, Hu Lin Tung is appointed captain of Guangdong headquarters and goes away. Later, Bae Le De is also appointed to a post at the same place. Hu Lun Ting falls in love with Luo Hua, daughter of the local commander.

The film tells the story of Yang Naifan (Ruan Lingyu) who runs from her arranged marriage to be with her true love, Li Zuyi (Jin Yan). The film details the poverty she must endure for breaking with tradition.

This film depicting the lives of ordinary people — street peddlers, poor scholars, and young revolutionaries — reflects the culturally progressive political climate of that pre-War, post-May the 4th era.

Ill-fated romance of an orphaned flower girl and a young musician, destroyed by his traditional family and the Shanghai underworld.