Mei Lanfang (1894-1961) was one of the greatest masters of Peking Opera in Chinese history (the world-famous Master of Chinese Opera).
Charlie Chaplin and Mei Lanfang met in Los Angeles in 1930, when May was on a six-month tour of the United States. Six years later, when Chaplin and Paulette Goddard, the heroine of his Modern Times (he had just finished filming), were sailing around the world, they met again in Shanghai.
This photo was taken when they first met, and here's the photo from the second meeting:
According to Chinamirror, this conversation took place between them:
"I remember when we met in L.A. six years ago, we were all black haired. As you can see, my hair is now half white, but I can't see any of your gray, is that fair? Mei Lanfang also joked: "That's because you work harder than I do, and all your films that you write, direct, and act in have turned gray." I want you to take care of yourself. ”
Mei Lanfang is the most representative figure in the history of Chinese Peking Opera at its peak and in the late Qing Dynasty and after the establishment of the Republic of China. In his more than 50 years of stage career, he has created many beautiful women's artistic images, accumulated a large number of excellent repertoire, and developed the performing arts of Peking Opera Danjiao. His youngest son, Mei Baojiu, is a famous descendant of today's Mei Pai.
Mei Lanfang has made outstanding contributions to promoting cultural exchanges between the East and the West, and is also a pioneer in the dissemination of Peking Opera art in China to overseas. At home and abroad, Mr. Mei Lanfang is known as a great actor and the embodiment of beauty.