In 2009, Yan Huaili died of a lung infection, and his friends who had filmed "Journey to the West" rushed to the hospital to see him for the last time.
The crew of "Journey to the West" gathered in the hospital to see Yan Huaili for the last time
Only Ma Dehua, the actor of the Eight Precepts, was unable to rush to the hospital due to traffic jams on the road, which became Yan Huaili's regret before his death. Before his death, he still kept talking about Ma Dehua, which showed the friendship between the two.
However, what makes people wonder is why Xu Shaohua, the actor of Tang Monk, did not go to the hospital, and even did not attend the funeral?
Xu Shaohua stills
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="3" > work together to create a classic</h1>
Yan Huaili, who was 45 years old at the time, learned that when the "Journey to the West" crew was recruiting actors, he adhered to the mentality of trying it out and succeeding in case he succeeded, and auditioned for roles such as Manjushri Bodhisattva's mount and green haired lion, all of which were marginalized characters.
Yan Huaili plays a monk
Director Yang Jie saw that he was tall and strong, thick and honest, and felt that the role of sand monk was very suitable for him, so he let him play the role of sand monk.
Mistakenly hit and bumped into a protagonist scene, Yan Huaili could not contain his inner excitement.
Yan Huaili plays Sha Monk
In fact, he did not initially engage in acting work, but worked as a small accountant in the bank, but the boring life soon bored him.
Subsequently, he was successfully admitted to the Beijing People's Art Theater, and after graduation, he was active in the drama circle, but he could only play soy sauce and had no fame. Now that I have this hard-won opportunity, I must cherish it.
Still
In 1982, Yan Huaili followed the crew and began to wade through mountains and rivers, walking through the great rivers and mountains of the motherland for filming. During this period, he formed a deep friendship with Ma Dehua, the actor of the Eight Precepts, and the six-year-old child who played Sun Wukong.
Because Yan Huaili was older, he took the initiative to take the image of his brother. Whenever the other two needed help, he would decisively lend a helping hand. The other two also joked with Yan Huaili from time to time, and the three of them were brothers and sisters.
Stills of the four masters and apprentices
Because of the lack of funds, Yan Huaili played ten roles in "Journey to the West", can you imagine that the roles of Taishang Laojun, the Dragon King of the West Sea, and the Bull Demon King are all played by the same person? It is enough to see that his acting skills are superb, it is a proper "drama throwing face", and he can interpret different characters wonderfully and differently.
Yan Huaili played 10 corners alone
In this way, the crew got through a very difficult time together. At that time, the conditions of eating and accommodation were very simple, and accidents often occurred when filming. It was this kind of relationship that made that time the most memorable moment in everyone's life.
But once feelings conflict with interests, they will deteriorate.
"Journey to the West" crew
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="61" > conflicts of interest and broken feelings</h1>
In 1986, as soon as "Journey to the West" was broadcast, it immediately caused a sensation throughout China. As long as it is a person who has a TV at home, whenever it is time to broadcast, a large number of people will gather in front of the TV set to watch together.
GIF from Journey to the West
As the protagonists, the four of them successfully gained popularity and became idols in the hearts of the audience.
After the fire, major commercial performances also rushed in.
At the beginning, Yang Jie did not approve of taking too many commercial performances, after all, once she left the TV set and went to the audience, it might destroy the image of the character in their hearts.
Yang Jie said drama
But the reality is very helpless, hard work for 6 years, paid so much effort, if there is no commercial performance, it is really difficult to continue to support.
In the end, Yang Jie decided to lead four masters and apprentices to participate in a large-scale performance in Singapore. Because this performance is paid a lot and the popularity is also large.
Four masters and apprentices went to Singapore for a commercial performance
As the first commercial performance, it is natural to rehearse well and ensure that nothing goes wrong in order to have a good start. Who ever wanted to rehearse on the day, except for Chi Chongrui, the actor of Tang Monk, who came to the scene, the other three apprentices all took leave.
At that time, Ma Dehua proposed, "Or a few of us will go to pick up other commercial performances first, and then go to Singapore together, after all, this matter is not urgent."
Madhua
Yan Huaili wanted to refuse when he heard it, because Yang Jie would definitely be unhappy. If it were not for Yang Jie's kindness, his career would not have achieved so much. But he thought about it for a moment, now that he has finally survived, if he does not hit the iron while it is hot, earn more money, and he is older, what can he do in the future? After some consideration, Yan Huaili nodded, and the youngest six-year-old child also agreed to this suggestion.
The three decided to perform in the domestic commercial arena first
But how can only three apprentices be enough? So they found Chi Chongrui, the actor of the Tang monk at that time. But no matter how much persuasion was made, Chi Zhongrui insisted on standing on Yang Jie's side. In desperation, the three had to find Xu Shaohua, the actor of the previous Tang monk, to form four masters and apprentices and start commercial performances.
Xu Shaohua
Originally thought that the three of them really had something to ask for leave, Yang Jie did not have too much doubt, but after knowing the truth, she was angry. Isn't this just deceiving yourself? Yang Jie felt angry at the same time, but also very disappointed, after all, everyone had experienced so many difficulties together, but now there are contradictions because of money.
So when the three returned from the business performance, Yang Jie severely criticized them on this matter, hoping that they would realize their mistakes.
Yang Jie
But from their point of view, it is not wrong to rely on the current fame and earn more money to supplement the family, but there is no consultation and communication with Yang Jie in advance. After this incident, the three apprentices and Yang Jie completely fell out.
Subsequently, Yang Jie did not attend the next Singapore commercial performance, and the three apprentices followed the staff to perform as planned, and officially announced that their relationship with the director had broken down.
The reason why Yang Jie did not go to Singapore for commercial performances
Because standing on the same line, Yan Huaili's relationship with Ma Dehua and the six-year-old child was closer. As for Xu Shaohua, because he later refused to perform with the three of them, everyone gradually drifted apart.
Afterwards, Yan Huaili was full of guilt, on the one hand was a brother, on the other side was his benefactor, no matter which side he stood on, he would hurt the other party. But now that I have made a choice, I can only grit my teeth and persevere.
Yan Huaili stills
In Yang Jie's autobiography, this experience is mentioned. She said that the three apprentices took the lead in isolating themselves, and if anyone else was on her side, he was not allowed to perform abroad. They also complained to the director of CCTV and said bad things about themselves.
Although these are all yang jie listening to what others say, the authenticity needs to be examined, but it can be said that it can be made public in the form of a book, which can be said to be completely without mercy on them.
Yang Jie describes "Journey to the West" as her pain
In the following ten years, whenever she found that "Journey to the West" was playing on TV, Yang Jie would decisively change the station.
Yang Jie has not seen "Journey to the West" for 10 years
In 1998, CCTV reappointed Yang Jie to direct "Journey to the West Sequel". In order to be able to continue the 86 version of the classic, it was originally planned to summon the original team to continue shooting, but then something happened, which led Yang Jie to decisively replace Ma Dehua and Yan Huaili. The reason given by the crew is that the two are older, and some of the fighting actions may not be completed. But the reports at the time did not describe it that way.
Journey to the West sequel poster
Ma Dehua once said in an interview: I did not star entirely because of human factors. This sentence seems to mean something, and it has to be reminiscent of the previous incident when they fell out with Yang Jie because of the commercial performance. During this period, it was also proposed that some people do not choose actors through artistic points of view, but by personal emotions.
Although he was replaced, Yan Huaili was not as indignant as Ma Dehua, he did have mistakes first, did something sorry for Yang Jie, and it was reasonable to be punished. And his physical condition, indeed, can no longer engage in high-intensity work. Therefore, for this result, Yan Huaili can also accept it with peace of mind.
Because of the commercial performance, it is really lamentable to destroy the feelings between the crew. But both sides are based on their own interests, the road is different, do not conspire, and finally evolved into such an ending, can only say that everyone's pursuit and values are deviated.
Yan Huaili
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="77" > unfortunately ill, it is difficult for the four masters and apprentices to get together</h1>
After filming "Journey to the West", Yan Huaili's life has improved, the film salary has been much higher, and he has also participated in other works and was rated as a national first-class actor. I thought that the future days would be smooth, who had wanted to create people, and unfortunate things happened.
In 1993, the crew set up a scene outdoors, but there are many mosquitoes here, and some of them are even poisonous. In order to repel mosquitoes, the staff sprayed a large amount of predators in the tent.
I had been told in advance to let the people in the tent out, but Yan Huaili was born with a sense of smell that was not sensitive and could not smell the smell inside the tent. In this way, when he was resting in the tent, he inhaled too much dichlorvos gas, resulting in a constant cough, accompanied by asthma, and then was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Because of this incident, Yan Huaili's lungs had serious problems, and he could only push off his work and recuperate at home. After a period of treatment, the condition was finally alleviated, but it still fell to the root of the disease, and the function of the lungs deteriorated.
After that, Yan Huaili made several works in succession, and as he got older, his physical fitness became worse and worse. So in 2000, he officially stopped and began retirement.
He occasionally read books, watched ball games, and took a walk with his wife, a life that was leisurely and comfortable.
In 2009, Yan Huaili suddenly had a lung infection and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. When he was hospitalized, he knew he might survive, so he asked his family to call his old friends to come to the hospital, hoping to see them one last time before they died.
After learning of this, the three former masters and apprentices went to the hospital to visit Yan Huaili. When he met the six-year-old child, Yan Huaili burst into tears and recalled the years when he helped each other in the crew. Tang Monk Chi Chongrui also came, and the three of them took a group photo in the hospital, but they were still eight precepts away.
Hospital group photo
At that time, Ma Dehua was stuck in the road and could not be reached for a while and a half. Yan Huaili has been nagging Ma Dehua in front of the hospital bed, but unfortunately, there are always regrets in life, and he did not see the last side of the other party before he died. By the time Ma Dehua arrived at the hospital, it was too late, and the four masters and apprentices could no longer be reunited.
However, what is confusing is that Xu Shaohua also filmed scenes with them for more than two years, and it is reasonable to say that the feelings are good, but he did not visit Yan Huaili or attend the funeral. Why?
In fact, many years ago, in the business performance, he had an unpleasant encounter with the three apprentices, and there was a little contradiction. In addition, Yan Huaili and several people settled in Beijing, and Xu Shaohua was in Shandong, far away, and it was forgivable that he could not attend the funeral.
Drama is drama, reality is reality, they are only role actors, not real people. It is precisely because of their painstaking efforts that this classic has been achieved. Although there were disputes in the follow-up and some human problems were exposed, the classics they created for us are indestructible.