Mingxing Film Company

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Mingxing Film Company (Chinese= 明星影片公司; pinyin=Míngxīng yǐngpiàn gōngsī) or "Star" Films was one of the largest Chinese production companies during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Founded in 1922, Mingxing emerged along with Dazhonghua Baihe, and Tianyi Film Company as one of the three dominant film studios of the 1920s. During this period, all three studios were known for producing "light" entertainment. By the early 1930s, Mingxing had became the leading film studio in China, and dominated the market with the new Lianhua Film Company (which had co-opted Dazhonghua Baihe) as a close second. Tianyi also continued to produce films throughout the 1930s, though its output did not match the two leaders. In contrast both Mingxing and Lianhua became major production houses for leftist films in Shanghai.

Films made under Mingxing's banner include famous leftist films like Kuang Liu (dir. Cheng Bugao, 1933), The Boatman's Daughter (Dir. Shen Xiling, 1935), and Street Angel (dir. Yuan Muzhi, 1937). Like Lianhua, Mingxing's production capabilities suffered significantly after the Japanese invasion and occupation of Shanghai.