A String of Pearls | 1926 | Drama

Title: A String of Pearls | 1926 | Drama Director: Li Zeyuan Studio: Great Wall Film Company Starring: Lei Xiadian, Liu Hanjun, Zhai Qiqi, Xing Shaomei, Liu Jiqun Based on: The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant Release Date: January 21, 1926 Runtime: 102 minutes Format: Silent, black-and-white; bilingual title cards Country: Republic of China Language: Silent Genres: Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Domestic calm and the borrowed necklace 00:22:00 The party and the theft 00:40:00 Embezzlement exposed and arrest 00:58:00 Hardship and separation 01:16:00 Blackmail and confrontation 01:34:00 Confession and reconciliation --- Summary: A white-collar couple in Shanghai borrow a pearl necklace so the wife can attend a social gathering in style. After the necklace is stolen, the husband secretly replaces it with funds taken from his employer, is discovered, and sent to prison, plunging the family into hardship. Years later, a blackmail scheme reveals the true thief and the chain of events behind the original crime. The revelation leads to reconciliation, a new job for the husband, and the restoration of the family, underscoring themes of vanity, social aspiration, and moral responsibility. --- Background: Produced by Shanghai’s Great Wall Film Company and released on January 21, 1926, the film adapts Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace” to a modern Chinese urban setting. Screenwriter Hou Yao frames the story as a cautionary tale about vanity amid the tensions of 1920s Shanghai modernity. The production is notable for two early animated sequences, including opening credits and a mid-film moment where pearls morph into the Chinese word for “misfortune.” --- Trivia: The director is credited in English as C. Y. Lee, a romanization of Li Zeyuan. The film features bilingual title cards, with English and Chinese text presented together. Two animated sequences appear: in the opening credits and around minute 68, where the pearls rearrange to spell “misfortune.” Alternate English title A String of Pearls is widely used alongside the literal translation A Pearl Necklace. Shot in 1925 and released the following year, the film runs approximately 102 minutes. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: January 21, 1926 Original Studio / Distributor: Great Wall Film Company Copyright Status: Unknown Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: AStringOfPearls 1926 SilentFilm ChineseCinema Drama GuydeMaupassant GreatWallFilmCompany ShanghaiCinema Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_String_of_Pearls_(1926).webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/A_String_of_Pearls_%281926%29.webm