Street Angel

Starring popular Chinese actor Zhao Dan (赵丹) and iconic Chinese singer Zhou Xuan (周璇), the story is set in the slums of Shanghai, chronicling the lives of a band of downtrodden underclass outcasts: a tea house singer, a trumpet player, a newspaper hawker, and a prostitute. By blending elements of romance, comedy and melodrama into the storyline, the characters find themselves in a variety of difficult situations as they try to navigate the hardships of the city during the 1930s. Released towards the end of the golden age of Shanghai cinema, the film is regarded as a masterpiece of the Chinese left-wing movement. Taking place during a time of national tension within the country, issues such as economic policy and military conflict are explored to raise awareness about some of China’s most pressing concerns. Additionally, the depiction of an impoverished neighborhood in the midst of a contemporary city is a compelling examination of how modernization had affected China during this era. This fusion between the two also provides a commentary on the combined effects that modernization and colonialism had on Shanghai specifically.

As one of China’s earliest sound films, Street Angel also made a name for itself by popularizing two timeless ballads: “Song of the Seasons” (四季歌) and “The Wandering Songstress” (天涯歌女), both of which are still celebrated as classics of Chinese modern song evolution.

Chen Shaoping, also known as Xiao Chen (Zhao Dan), is a trumpet player in the marching band who establishes a romantic connection with his neighbour, a songstress named Xiao Hong (Zhou Xuan) who fled the Japanese invasion of Manchuria with her older sister Xiao Yun (Zhao Huishen). In the midst of poverty, the two sisters are taken in by a couple that own a tea house and are subsequently made to work for them. As a way of pleasing customers, Xiao Yun is forced to become a streetwalker while Xiao Hong works as a singer.

The film continues to slowly develop the flirtatious relationship between Xiao Hong and her neighbour Chen Shaoping. Communicating across the street through their windows, the couple enjoy each other’s company through impromptu activities such as Xiao Hong singing a song alongside Chen Shaoping’s accompaniment and Chen Shaoping putting on a magic show for Xiao Hong’s entertainment. Then, one day, Chen Shaoping’s friend the Barber (Qian Qianli) sees Mr. Gu (Feng Zhicheng), a thug and frequenter of the tea house where Xiao Hong works, take Xiao Hong out after getting a haircut from the barbershop where the Barber works. The Barber then tells Ah Bing (Shen Jun), the young peddler who is also friends with Chen Shaoping, to follow Mr. Gu and Xiao Hong, and Ah Bing watches them happily buy clothes and eat together. When Ah Bing and the Barber tell Chen Shaoping of the events that have occurred, Chen Shaoping misinterprets this as Xiao Hong being unfaithful, and runs back to his room upset.

Chen Shaoping confronts Xiao Hong and they get into a fight about her apparent affair, whereby Xiao Hong flees back home. When Xiao Yun returns, she sees a sobbing Xiao Hong and comforts her. Later, Chen Shaoping and Wang (Wei Heiling), Chen Shaoping’s friend and a newspaper seller, are drinking at the tea house and an intoxicated Chen Shaoping demands Xiao Hong to sing him a song. She reluctantly sings him the song, “The Wandering Songstress,” but he leaves angrily before she is able to finish. Soon after, Xiao Hong overhears that her “parents” are scheming to sell her off to Mr. Gu. Unsure of what to do, Xiao Hong beseeches her sister for advice, who convinces her to seek help from Chen Shaoping.

Although initially still upset, Chen Shaoping comes to realize that Xiao Hong only has eyes for him, and after mending their relationship, he agrees to let her seek refuge with him and Wang. After hearing of the impending transaction involving Xiao Hong, Chen Shaoping and Wang go to consult Lawyer Zhang (Sun Jing) to see if they can do anything to stop it. However, they realize that they cannot afford the costly legal fees.

Without this legal help, the group flees to another district of Shanghai to hide from Xiao Hong’s “parents” and Mr. Gu. Xiao Yun also escapes the teahouse to reunite with the others, and plans to start a new life with Wang, as they are in love. Xiao Hong and Chen Shaoping have a common law marriage in their apartment, but they also face eviction as they cannot pay rent. The barbershop, three months behind on rent, is also forced to close down despite the workers holding a special promotion in an attempt to save the business.

Eventually, the owner of the tea house and Mr. Gu track down where Xiao Hong, Xiao Yun, Wang, and Chen Shaoping are living, although only Xiao Hong and Xiao Yun are present at the time. Xiao Hong manages to escape, but Xiao Yun stays behind and refuses to reveal her sister’s whereabouts to her adoptive father. He heartlessly calls her a slut and throws her against the wall. Fed up with everything she has suffered at the hands of the tea house owner, Xiao Yun retaliates by throwing a knife at him. The knife misses and he picks it up and throws it back at her, striking her in the chest and dealing a fatal blow. Upon hearing the news of the attack, Wang rushes to recover Xiao Yun. While Wang is out searching for a doctor, Xiao Yun dies surrounded by her sister, Chen Shaoping, and his friends. Wang returns, stating that he did not have enough money for a doctor. The film ends with the small group mourning the loss of Xiao Yun together.