Shi Hui

Biography

Shi Hui (1915-1957), born Shi Yutao in Tianjin. He moved to Beijing at age one and studied at the Primary School attached to Beijing Normal University, later attending Nankai School where he participated in the Nankai New Drama Troupe. After the school's main building was bombed by Japanese planes in 1937, he relocated with students to Yaohua School. Due to financial hardship, he left for Shanghai before graduation and worked as a train boy, dental assistant, and cinema concession clerk. In 1940, introduced by his former classmate and actor Lan Ma, he joined the Chinese Travel Troupe, quickly rose to fame in theater, then moved to cinema with Wenhua Film Company. After 1949, he acted and directed films such as "Chicken Feather Letter" and "Liu Hulan." His film "Company Commander Guan" was criticized for "disfiguring the People's Liberation Army." In 1957, his film "Night Voyage in the Fog Sea" was attacked during the Anti-Rightist Campaign for "distorting the Party's image." An essay he published titled "The Great General of Eastern Wu — Lies" criticizing falsehood in society led to his labeling as a "Rightist." In November 1957, he committed suicide at sea aboard the "Democracy No. 3" steamship used in filming his last movie.