Yan Jun (1917-1980), formerly known as Yan Zongqi, was born in Beiping in 1917. His grandfather worked in the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce in Beiping.
His father was a student of Jiaotong University. When Yan Jun was very young, his parents went to Japan to study and left him with his grandfather. At the age of 7, he entered the primary school attached to the university.
At the age of 10, his parents returned to Beiping from Japan, and soon after, they were transferred to the Qingdao Railway Bureau.
Later, Yan Jun's grandfather also left the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce and moved to Qingdao with his grandson, and Yan Jun entered the Jiaoji Railway Middle School. When he was 19 years old, he returned to Peking and was admitted to Fu Jen University to study chemistry.
From left: Yan Hua, Liu Qiong, Yan Fei, Zhou Xuan, Yan Jun - Yan Hua is the fifth oldest in the family and marries his wife Zhou Xuan; Yan Fei is Yan Hua's sister and marries Liu Qiong; Yan Jun is the son of Yan Hua's second brother
After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Yan Jun left school and went to Tianjin to work in a transportation company in Tianjin on be introduced by his uncle.
The following year, his cousin Yan Hua (1912-1992, Zhou Xuan's first husband) took him to Shanghai.
At that time, Yan Hua was very famous in the Entertainment Industry in Shanghai, and Yan Jun's aunt Yan Fei (1916-2014) was also active in the drama and film circles in Shanghai, which prompted Yan Jun to have a desire to work in the film industry.
Yan Jun was photographed in 1940
At this time, Zhou Xuan (1920-1957) and Yan Hua began to live together and then married, and "Queen Of The Golden Voice" also became Yan Jun's aunt.
In 1938, he was admitted to the Shanghai Guohua Film Company and changed his name to Yan Jun. He played an unimportant supporting role in The New Hell (1939), starring Zhou Xuan, which was his first film. In 1940, he left Guohua and was introduced by Yan Fei to join the Shanghai Opera Art Society.
He played a xie in the drama "Sai Jinhua" performed by Shi Hua (1915-1957) and others. Although this is an unimportant supporting role, he has played it well and received praise.
Stills from the movie "Floating Clouds And Hidden Moon" (1943), Yan Jun and Wang Danfeng
At that time, the Shanghai film and drama industry felt a lack of actors. Yan Jun was fortunate enough to be quickly assigned to play the leading role, playing the role of Wu Sangui in the drama "Chen Yuanyuan", and then starring in "Li Xiucheng Martyrdom" (as Li Xiucheng) and "Under the Eaves of Shanghai", which was encouraged by the public opinion. This established his position in the drama industry.
After the dissolution of "Shangyi", Yan Jun joined the "Shanggang" and played the role of Madenko in "Metamorphosis", and he vividly expressed the image of The Little Man of Madenko with his original performance, and was praised.
The play was performed for 27 consecutive days, breaking the record of the Shanghai drama industry at that time. Later, he participated in the performance of "A Q Zheng biography", only 3 days, and the troupe announced its dissolution.
Stills from the movie "Pearlescent Treasure" (1948), Yan Jun and Chen Juanjuan
When Yan Junzheng was worried about the way out, it just so happened that Fang Peilin was preparing to shoot the film "Wind and Rain in the Same Boat" and needed actors, so he turned to the film industry again.
In 1942, Li Pingqian of Huaxin Company edited and directed "The Flow of Noble Ladies" (1942). The film depicts a noblewoman who has an ambiguous relationship with the driver, but the driver is killed, and when the driver's wife exposes the relationship between the noblewoman and her husband, the noblewoman is ashamed of herself and commits suicide.
Yan Jun plays the driver. This is his first lead role on screen. In the film, his oily and slippery performance is very eye-catching.
Stills from the movie "Speechless Ask the Heavens" (1948), Yan Jun and Wang Danfeng
After the disappearance of the "isolated island" in Shanghai, Huaxin merged into the pseudo-"Central League", and he joined the "Huaying" until the surrender of Japanese imperialism.
During this period, he starred in about 20 films. After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, a group of film actors went to Hong Kong, and Yan Jun, who stayed in Shanghai, became a busy person.
In 1947, he made films for CLP No.3 Factory, Cathay Pacific, Wenhua, New Times and other companies, among which the over-sold films were: "Qingqing Riverside Grass" (1947) and "Smelling Birds Everywhere" (1947).
Stills from the movie "Grass by the Qingqing River" (1947), Yan Jun and Wang Danfeng
In 1948 he starred in The Man Who Betrayed the Shadow (1948), directed by Ho Fei Kwong (1913-1997).
The film depicts a small clerk of a department store who wants to get rich all day long, sells his "shadow" in a dream, and becomes extremely rich, but wakes up from a spring dream and is still a poor egg.
Yan Jun's performance in the film caused a sensation in the film world, and later he also made extremely popular films, such as "Where Not to Meet" (1948) and "Speechless Ask the Heavens" (1948), etc., and his reputation became higher and higher.
Stills from the movie "The Sound of Wind and Rain at Night" (1949), Yan Jun and Wang Danfeng
In 1948 he made 9 films in a row. In 1949, he starred in 6 more films, of which "The Sound of The Night comes and Goes" (1949), starring with Wang Danfeng (1924-2018), was the most acclaimed.
In the second half of 1949, he went to Hong Kong and starred with the famous actress Bai Guang (1921-1999) in "The Treasure book of The Wind and Currents" (1949) for the Hong Kong Cooperative Film and Art Society.
Because the film was very popular, he and Bai Guang co-starred in the first film "Slut's Heart" (1949) after the establishment of the Great Wall Pictures Company, in which he played the young master Chen Daosheng. The film was a sensation after its release.
Images of Yan Jun and Bai Guang in the film Slut's Heart (1949).
In the 1950s, Yan Jun began to play a big role in the Hong Kong film industry. He then played the legendary Snitch Ma Debiao in Blood Stained Begonia Red (1949) and the evil warlord Ma Zhanyuan in A Generation of Demons (1950).
He then played the simple and righteous young Zheng Yisheng in "Nan Lai Yan" (1950), the impostor Commissioner Pan Chongfu in "The World of Lying" (1950), the cross-talking jianghu artist Xiao Hulu in "Flower Street" (1950), Jia Baoyu in "Dream of the New Red Chamber" (1952), the rogue Black Three in Loquat Lane (1953), and also starred in "Night of the Wild Wind" (1952) and "Begonia" (1953).
Images of Yan Jun and Bai Guang in the movie "A Generation of Demons" (1950).
These were the best-selling films of that year and were hailed as masterpieces by the Hong Kong film industry. In particular, "The World of Lying" (1950), starring Li Lihua (1924-2017), was evaluated as a classic in the history of post-war Hong Kong cinema.
In these films, although the characters played by Yan Jun have completely different personalities, he can grasp the tone of the roles he plays, focus on the inner performance, and show the different characters naturally and realistically.
In particular, the villain he played was very successful, and was praised by the audience as the "villain saint".
Yan Jun's image in the film Flower Street (1950).
Since Zhou Xuan was "arranged" to return to Shanghai from Hong Kong in 1950, there have been few actresses who can sell in the Hong Kong film industry, and there has been a serious break. Actresses like Li Lihua, Bai Guang, Wang Danfeng, etc., are actually several grades worse than Zhou Xuan at the box office, and their appeal in Southeast Asia is relatively weak.
And these actresses in the "no tiger in the mountains, monkeys called the king", but also compete to raise their value, so that the filmmakers feel "not worth it", but also to bear the box office risk.
After all, unlike in the past, as long as the film starring and singing by Zhou Xuan is reported to the outside world, there will be a large number of distributors who will hand over the deposit to the hands of the filmmaker, and the cost will be recovered before the filming is completed.
Stills from the movie The World of Lying (1950), Yan Jun (left) and Li Lihua
This has forced many film companies in Hong Kong to start opening training courses for newcomers to the film and recruiting rookies in order to send new blood to the Hong Kong film industry.
At that time, the "Great Wall", like "Yonghua", was a fairly powerful Hong Kong film company, with many red stars such as Li Lihua and Sun Jinglu (1923-1989).
In the face of a highly competitive market, those directors for the sake of insurance, or none of them dare to risk the use of new people.
Stills from the movie "Dream of the New Red Chamber" (1952), Yan Jun and Li Lihua
In 1950, Lin Dai (1934-1964) joined the Great Wall Film Company, but there were no films to shoot, and he was often snubbed. She is very upset about such a cold reception, and being a "photo star" who only takes money and does not shoot dramas is very upset and depressed all the time.
When she was idle and bored, she went to the nearby "Peninsula Tea House" to enjoy tea and relax. At that time, she was often accompanied by her colleague Huang He (1919-2000) who often accompanied her to the "Peninsula Tea House".
After the Yellow River acted as a "flower protector" for a period of time, he could not get Lin Dai's heart, so he retreated. At this time, Yan Jun, the most popular young student in the Great Wall Film Company, appeared in front of Lin Dai's eyes.
Stills from the movie Nyonya (1952), Yan Jun and Xia Meng
Yan Jun relied on his weight in the "Great Wall" at that time to come forward for Lin Daihan. After Yan Jun's single-handed manipulation, Lin Dai finally got the opportunity to audition.
At that time, the "Great Wall" was filming "Nyonya" (1952), so he let Lin Dai audition for a supporting role in the film, although the audition effect was good, but the "Great Wall" was still unwilling to give her the opportunity to get ahead, which made Yan Jun feel indignant and made him very faceless.
Therefore, he encouraged Lin Dai to jump ship with himself, and finally entered Li Zuyong's (1903-1959) Yonghua Film Company.
In July 1953, Yan Jun and Lin Dai took a group photo when promoting the movie "Cuicui"
Yan Jun is not only an excellent actor, but also a well-known director. In 1951, after moving from the "Great Wall" in Hong Kong to "Wing Wah", he began to work as a director. His first film was Wushan League (1952).
In 1952, he directed a second film, Cuicui (1953, adapted from Shen Congwen's novel Border City), starring Lin Dai.
The company owner Li Zuyong heard that the unknown Lin Dai starred in "Cuicui", afraid of losing money and disagreeing, Yan Jun after many negotiations, exhausted his tongue, and finally let Li Zuyong send a kind heart, agreed to Lin Dai to play the protagonist of the movie "Cuicui" "Cuicui".
Lin Dai's image in the song and dance film "A Thousand Charms" (1961).
After the release of the film "Cuicui" starring Lin Dai, it was indeed like the "military order" made by Yan Jun in advance - the box office was not bad. Even in Southeast Asia, it is also famous, so that Lin Dai's star path is smooth, laying the foundation for him to win 4 "Asian film queens" in the future.
After Lin Dai was discovered and reused by Yan Jun, she had a love history with Yan Jun and became a legend in the film industry. After that, the two cooperated a lot, Lin Dai in Yan Jun's "Spring is Not Reading Day" (1954), "The Man Who Eats the Slap" (1954), "Jin Feng" (1956), "Mei Gu" (1956) and other films, are proper female number one, and in these films, Yan Jun also personally played the main role, teaching by example, so that Lin Dai's acting skills can also be rapidly improved.
Stills from the movie "The Man Who Eats the Slap" (1954), from left: Lan Qing, Yan Jun, Lin Dai, Hu Jinquan
Without Yan Jun's help, there would be no Lin Dai. Yan Jun can be called Lin Dai's half agent. Although Yan Jun and Lin Dai are 17 years apart, the two came together because of their work relationship and once lived together in secret.
Helplessly, Miss Lin Dai had a temper and was much smaller than Yan Jun. In 1955, Yan Jun's "Wind and Rain" (1956), originally he wanted to continue to let Lin Dai play the heroine in the film, but the producer invited Li Lihua to star.
Lin Dai knew that she had not starred in the film, and she committed suicide in anger, but fortunately, Yan Jun found out in time and rescued her.
Stills from the movie "Juzi Girl" (1956), Yan Jun and Lin Dai
Yan Jun's talent and his door slamming were also famous in the film circle at that time, and the actresses who also cut the door in Hong Kong at that time were Zhou Xuan and Li Lihua.
It is said that when he goes out to eat, he is not even willing to give up a bottle of Coca-Cola. But Yan Jun was very good to Lin Dai and had been paying for it, and the reporter at that time once sarcastically said: "If it were not for Lin Dai, it would be simply cutting meat to ask him to pay for it." ”
The difference between the two personalities is also very large, Lin Dai spends money generously, the two often argue about it, although there are various rumors in the details, but who can tell the family affairs, in the end, Yan Jun still can't stand Lin Dai's bad temper, after the two broke up, turned around, and actually married Li Lihua, who completely became a "right wing", "the feelings are very strong, out of the double into the right."
On the set of the movie "Flower Field Mistake" (1962), Yan Jun (second from right) is instructing Lottie (right) and Zhang Zhongwen (left) how to move
It is said that when Yan Jun first entered the industry, he had a good relationship with Li Lihua, but at that time he was very poor, and Li Lihua's mother did not like him. Although Yan Jun is 7 years older than Li Lihua, in terms of fame, Li Lihua began to become popular on the beach with "Three Laughs Sequel" (1940).
Li Lihua and Yan Jun first collaborated in the film "Autumn" (1942), Li Lihua and Wang Danfeng were the heroines of the film, and Yan Jun was still a humble supporting role in the film; later the two collaborated in the films "Ling Bo Fairy" (1943), "Ten Thousand Purple And Thousand Reds" (1943), "Spring River Resentment" (1944), "Little Phoenix Immortal" (1953) and other films.
Images of Yan Jun and Li Lihua in the film "Xi Jiao" (1963).
At that time, it was also widely rumored in Hong Kong that Li Lihua and Lin Dai were originally friends, and for yan jun, the friendship between the two changed.
In fact, from the perspective of generations and resumes, Li Lihua and Lin Dai will never be friends, at most they are nodding friends.
With Yan Jun and Li Lihua's life experience, after experiencing too many things, and knowing each other for more than ten years, there are naturally many things to understand, both of them have also made "bad" movies, and they will be "punished" when they return to the mainland.
On December 1, 1957, Li Lihua and Yan Jun held a wedding ceremony at St. Teresa's Church in Hong Kong
In May 1957, Yan Jun basically directed two films at the same time, Valley of the Dead (1957) and Dragon Play Phoenix (1957), and the heroines of these two films were Lin Dai and Li Lihua.
When filming "Valley of the Dead", Yan Jun and Lin Dai were in a state of "cold war".
On the set, Lin Dai often ignored Yan Jun's shooting requirements, "making a small character", at that time, Lin Dai knew that in fact, Yan Jun had made an agreement with Li Lihua in "Dragon Play Phoenix".
Footage of Li Lihua Yanjun's visit to Taiwan in June 1956
Just after filming "Valley of the Dead", Lin Dai and Yan Jun, who had been in love for 4 years, announced their breakup, and in less than 2 months, Li Lihua and Yan Jun held a wedding ceremony at St. Deglie Church in Hong Kong on December 1, 1957.
Lin Dai was once sad after hearing the news that Li Lihua and Yan Jun's lightning were married.
In 1964, Lin Dai committed suicide by gas in her apartment at the age of 30. After Lin Dai left, the love story between the three of them was taken out by the media at the time to "stir-fry".
In July 1964, Yan Jun and Li Lihua attended Lin Dai's funeral together
After a twist of fate, Li Lihua and Yan Jun cultivated positive results and went to the United States to give birth after two years of marriage.
Yan Jun also has a bole spirit, Shaw's great director Li Hanxiang (1926-1996), that is, he was much promoted by him, and Li Hanxiang's first filming was to be Yan Jun's assistant director.
Yan Jun's directing technique has been valued by the Hong Kong film industry, and large companies have tried their best to attract him. Later, he transferred from Yonghua to Shaw as a director. From 1951 to 1970, Yan Jun directed a total of 50 films, and was a well-known prolific director in the Hong Kong film industry.
In 1958, he founded the "Golden Dragon" film company, filmed 4 films such as "The Lady's Affair" (1959), and then organized the "Hehe Company" and made a film of "Night Gunshots" (1960).
In 1971, Yan Jun went to Taiwan to set up a company to shoot films, directing the film "Spring Thunder on the Earth" (1971).
When Yan Jun directed "Spring Thunder on the Ground" on the set, he fainted due to overwork, and the doctor suggested that he should not continue to be a director.
In his spare time, he began to invest in the stock market.
Around 1972, he suffered from diabetes and heart disease, and was not as depressed as before due to the impact of the stock market.
In 1973, Hong Kong stocks plummeted, and he was mentally devastated.
Yan Jun and Li Lihua were photographed in 1955
In 1973, he and Li Lihua settled in the United States and have since withdrawn from the film industry.
Li Lihua opened a restaurant in the United States at the time, and Yan Jun worked as a bank manager and a shipping company.
In 1980, Yan Jun died of a heart attack in New York at the age of 63.
Li Lihua later lamented in an interview that if Yan Jun could "multi-end the plate" with her, relax and do more activities, maybe he would not have gone so early.
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