Inventory of the Chinese Filmscript and Advertisement Collection, 1946-1985
[top]Descriptive Summary
Repository
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke
University
Creator
Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio of China
Title
Chinese Filmscript and Advertisement Collection, 1946-1985
Language of Material
Material in Chinese
Extent
3.0 Linear Feet
1750 Items
Abstract
1750 Items
Produced mostly by the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio of China. The material was found in a cinema company office in Henan province, China.
Collection of film advertisements and transcripts of Chinese documentary films and newsreels that spans the years 1946 to 1985; bulk of items are transcripts for documentary films and newsreels from the Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976. Dating of the 1946 item is questionable. All documents are in Chinese. Arranged into the following series: Advertisements and Film Description Series; Documentary and Newsreel Scripts Series; Feature Filmscripts Series; and Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Series. Topics include industry, agriculture, the economy, military matters, education, public health care, medicine and science, as well as political movements, foreign relations, cultural and sporting events. Collection also contains a group of printed advertisements and other publicity for Chinese and foreign films, plays, opera, and local performances.
[top]
Administrative Information
Online ItemsThe Chinese Filmscript and Advertisement Collection is available to the Duke University community in digital format via IDC Publishers Primary Sources Online: http://www.primarysourcesonline.nl/c22/. Access to this digital collection requires the DjVu Browser Plug-in by LizardTech.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Copyright Notice
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Chinese Filmscript and Advertisement Collection, Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Chinese Filmscript and Advertisement Collection was received by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a
transfer in 2005.
Processing Information
Processed by Zhaohui Xue, Melissa Delbridge, April 10, 2006
Encoded by Michael Shumate, Melissa Pascoe
Completed July 2006
Updated by Jill Katte, June 2007
Updated by Noah Huffman, June 2009
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.
[top]
Historical Note
Produced mostly by the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio of China, documentary films and newsreels were two of the major mass media and communication channels in China from the 1950s through 1970s. They covered all aspects of social activities, though the emphasis was on developments and achievements in the building of a socialist country. In order to reach even broader public audiences, government agents produced and printed the transcripts and shot lists for the films and sent them to cities and rural areas. Few of these printed materials have survived due to the poor quality of the paper upon which they were printed. The material in this collection was found in a cinema company office in Henan province, China.
[top]Collection Overview
The collection of film advertisements and transcripts of Chinese documentary films and newsreels spans the years 1946 to 1985, although the bulk of the items in the collection are transcripts for the documentary films and newsreels from the
Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976. It should also be noted that the dating of the 1946 item is questionable. All documents in the collection are in Chinese. The collection is arranged into the following series: Advertisements and Film Description Series, 1953-1966 and undated; Documentary and Newsreel Scripts Series, 1946 (?)-1985 and undated; Feature Filmscripts Series, undated; and Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Series, 1950-1959 and undated. Topics include industry, agriculture, the economy, military matters, education, public health care, medicine and science, as well as political movements, foreign relations, cultural and sporting events. Most of the documentary filmscripts are short, focusing on a specific subject or event, whereas newsreel scripts are numbered sequentially within each year and cover multiple topics or events. During the Cultural Revolution, documentary films and newsreels were powerful and popular propaganda tools for patriotism, nationalism,
Chairman Mao, the Communist Party, and socialist construction, and served political purposes.
In this collection, there is also a group of printed advertisements and other publicity for Chinese and foreign films, plays, opera, and local performances. This collection is valuable for studies of contemporary Chinese culture, the Cultural Revolution, history and politics, communist propaganda, and mass media.
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Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
- China--History--1949-1976.
- China--History--1949-1976--Sources.
- China--History--Cultural Revolution--1966-1976.
- China--Politics and government--1949-1976.
- Documentary films--China--History and criticism.
- Propaganda, Communist--China.
- Mass media--China.
- Communication--Political aspects--China.
- Communication in politics--China.
Detailed Description of Collection
Advertisements and Film Description Series, 1953-1966 and undated
1 box
Film advertisements and publicity materials for Chinese
documentary films, Chinese
feature films, and foreign films that were imported
mostly from communist countries, such as
Vietnam,
North Korea,
Romania, and
Albania. They include summaries of the story, main characters, publicity
topics, terms of use, text for blackboard postings or broadcasting, and
discussion questions. Also includes some posters, performance schedules and
programs for films, plays, opera, local performances, etc. Some of these have
illustrations and screen shots. Arranged by title, then chronologically.
Box 1
宣 传 资 料 Xuan Chuan Zi Liao,
1953-1966 and undated
(8 folders)
宣 传 资 料 Miscellaneous
(2 folders)
银 屏 花 絮 Yin Ping Hua Xu, No.3, 7-10, and 60
(1 folder)
电 影 介 绍 Dian Ying Jie Shao, No. 7706-7707, 7801-7923, 7901,and
7908-7909
(1 folder)
Documentary and Newsreel Scripts Series, 1946(?)-1985 and undated
3 boxes
Transcripts and shot lists for newsreels and documentary films.
These focus on specific subjects, events or personal stories. Scripts in boxes
2 and 3 are arranged by subject, then chronologically within each subject. The
date on the earliest item in box 3 is questionable. There are also a few
special issues. For example, a special issue in February 1966 is entitled:
Chairman Mao’s Good Student- Jiao Yulu. Scripts for Xin Wen Jian Bao in box 4
are arranged by number and year.
Box 2
政 沸 Politics;
1958-1978 and undated
(7 folders)
外 交 Foreign Relations;
1961-1977 and undated
(6 folders)
军 事 Military;
1964-1966, 1976-1984 and
undated
(4 folders)
Box 3
工 业 Industry,
1959-1978 and undated
(6 folders)
农 业 Agriculture,
1960-1978 and undated;
1973-1975
(7 folders)
文 化 Culture,
1960-1985 and undated
(2 folders)
教 育 Education,
1946(?)-1976
(1 folder)
体 育 Sports,
1960
-1975 and undated
(1 folder)
卫 生, 医 疗 和 科 学 Health, Medicine, and Science,
1960-1977
(1 folder)
Box 4
新 闻 简 报 Xin Wen Jian Bao, No.1-19; No.29-41;
1965-1969; and
1971-1977
(15 folders)
Feature Filmscripts Series, undated
1 box
Filmscripts for 12 Chinese and foreign feature films.
Box 5
外 国 电 影 Foreign Films, B-K, L-S, Y-Z
(3 folders)
中 国 电 影 Chinese Films, B-D, F-L, Q-S, W-Z, and
Miscellaneous
(9 folders)
Newspaper Clipping Scrapbook Series, 1950-1959 and undated
1 box
Scrapbook containing
film reviews (many on foreign films),
publicity material, articles on film production and distribution, and reports
on film conferences, festivals, and award ceremonies.
Box 6
报 刊 剪 辑 Newspaper clips,
(1 scrapbook of clips)
