Original subtitles

Subtitles based on translation by Andrew F. Jones

Sync (Internet Archive): pykman See http://mclc.osu.edu/rc/pubs.htm

Mingxing (Star) Production

Street Angel Mingxing (Star) Film Company Production

Cinematographer Wu Yinxian

Scenery Ma Shouhong

Sound Lu Yinkeng

Stage Manager Liu Tuotian

Script Jian Banli

Film Developing Gu Youmin

Film Developing Chen Futing

Film Editing Jian Xiaozhang

Music Tian Han

Additional Music He Luting

Musician Lin Zhiyin

Musician Huang Hejun

Musician Qin Pengzhang

Musician Chen Zhong

Cast In order of appearance

Musician Zhao Dan

Newspaper seller Wei Heling

Singing Girl Zhou Xuan

Qin Player Wang Jiting

Gangster Feng Zhicheng

Henchman Chen Yiting

Barbershop Worker Qian Qianli

Barbershop Owner Tang Chaofu

Young Peddler Shen Jun

Unemployed Person Qiu Yuanyuan

Young Widow Yuan Shaomei

Prostitute Zhao Huishen

Brothel Madam Liu Jinyu

Lawyer Sun Jing

Misfortunate Man Xie Jun

Misfortunate Woman Liu Liying

Police Officer Han Yun

Rent Collector Li Dizhi

Dandy Yao Ping

Car Driver Yuan Aye

Writer and Director Yuan Muzhi

Autumn 1935

Autumn 1935 In the world of Shanghai's underclass.

Xiaohong. Come here.

What do you think you were going to do?

Such a mature girl, with a wild spirit.

- What song do you want to hear? - Anything is fine.

How about the "Song of Four Seasons", OK?

- Fine...fine, whatever. - OK, OK.

Springtime has arrived and green fills the window.

Under the window the maiden embroiders a pair of mandarin ducks.

Suddenly a ruthless blow

Splits the ducks apart

Summer has arrived and the willow fronds are long

The maiden drifts south of the river

The wind and sun is fine on the south and north parts of the river

But how can it compare to the green sorghum of home?

Autumn has arrived and the lotus flowers are fragrant

Each night the maiden dreams of her home town

Waking up, she doesn't see her dad and mom's faces

She only sees the bright moon in front of her window.

Winter has arrived and the snow is wide and vast

Winter clothes are mended and sent to her husband

Flesh and blood built the length of the Great Wall

I wish I could be Meng Jiang of those days

That girl is really not bad.

You really like her?

- Yes - I know the string player. Ah, Old Wang!

Yes, Old Chen...thank you.

- When did you get here? - Please sit.

- Thank you. - This is Mr. Gu.

- Oh, ah... - That's right, the Mr. Gu.

Ah, I've wanted to meet you for a long time!

Mr Gu really enjoyed your song girl.

Oh, really? I'll call her over here. Xiao Hong, come here.

- Greet Mr. Gu. - Mr. Gu.

Really not bad!

Sit, take a seat.

- Hey, Lu. - Hey, you scared me there.

- Whats up? - You're such scaredy pants!

- You're half done? - Yea, half done.

Nice smell.

- Hey boss, how's business? - So-so.

OK, OK, enough shaving heads already. Let's go to my place and have fun. Hurry up!

OK, OK.

I'm going out for a while. Give him a careful shave..

Do a good job. You don't want to hurt a person's head.

PEACEFUL LANE

- Monster, you scared him to death. - Baby, don't be afraid.

The little darling heard your trumpet from far off, so he knew you were on your way home.

Is that so? What a good baby!

Look, are Uncle's Chen's foreign clothes nice?

They're ugly!

Look, does Uncle Chen look like a foreign soldier?

Do I? Baby, I'll do some military drills for you to see, OK?

Just watch me! One, two, one, two.

Attention!

Little darling, let Uncle Chen hold you.

I won't hold him... I won't. Let me kiss him.

Don't let him kiss you. He's got bad breath.

Don't let him kiss. He's got bad breath, isn't that right?

She's gone downstairs.

The landlady seems to have a little thing for you.

'He's got bad breath, don't let him kiss you, don't let him.'

Ugh, lots of little hairs.

- Chen, how does she know if you have bad breath? - Get out of here!

Like a foreign soldier indeed! Would a foreign soldier have only this much left of his shirt?

OK, enough already. If you can't talk, then try not to talk so much, OK?

- Chen, He's found a picture. - Let's hang it up

- OK, but let me write something on it first. - That's OK, I'll write.

Bring me a brush.

In the saying "Have prosperity shared, Have difficulty beared", how do you write "difficulty"?

Idiot! Can't even write the character for 'difficult'. I'm coming.

One, two, three. Three idiots!

- Let me do it. - OK, You do it.

together...

shared.

Have...

difficulty

Difficulty...difficulty...difficulty...

Difficulty...difficulty...

Wang, how do you write the character for difficult?

Isn't 'difficulty' easy? It's about the same as the character for chicken.

One side looks like the character 'beauty', as in talented scholar and beautiful maiden...

and the other side is like the "hai" in Shanghai. Oh, no...

Its like the "jin" in Tianjin... no, that's not right either.

Slow down...

'Difficult'...'Difficult'

It's on the tip of my tongue.

Now I remember.

It was in yesterday's paper.

The nation faces difficulties, so everyone must stand up and take responsibility.

Here it is.

See, look here, isn't this half of the character beauty in 'talented scholar and beauty'?

But, that's not half of the 'hai' in Shanghai and it isn't half of the 'jin' in Tianjin.

It's the 'Han' half of Hankou.

Although you got the place wrong, you knew the character.

"Have prosperity together shared, Have difficulty together beared"

Good. Here, take it.

Hey, look, a wireless telegram for you!

Be quiet. Hide. Time for some tricks!

Xiaohong!

Look.

See how dirty it is

Such a big girl. You can't even do something as little as this.

All you know how to do is eat!

What do you think of what I was just telling you? What do you think?

Haven't I told you already? I don't have any.

Lao Lao, your temper is back.

You know as well as I do how Gu has deals going on all over Shanghai.

It wasn't easy to get a chance to meet him today.

I should go have a drink with him and become friends. Right?

Come on, quick, give me the money!

Just like a ghost!

Skulking around without making a sound.

Not even a simple 3 tile straight! Old Liu, you go ahead and play for me.

I might as well go home to sleep.

It's enough to drive one crazy.

Wait up! Why do you run away whenever you see me? I did nothing wrong to you.

It was just that we weren't careful enough and the old lady found about us.

She was jealous, she beat you, but what could I say about it, don't you think...

You two are up to your tricks again. No wonder I lost money.

Shameless bitch!

You leave with an empty pocketbook and come back empty too!

Shameless bitch! Get lost!

You and I are of the same heart...

To the ends of the earth, oh, to the edge of the sea

I seek, oh, seek the soul mate who understands my song

This little sister sings...

and her man plays along

You and I are of the same heart

Aiya aiya...

You and I are of the same heart

Toward the mountains of home, oh, I gaze to the north

Tears, oh, tears wet my robe sleeves

I long for my lover man even now

My man, oh, through hard times our love runs deep

Aiya aiya...

My man, oh, through hard times our love runs deep

In life, oh, who doesn't...

treasure their youth?

This little sister is like a thread, and you are the needle

We're threaded together and we'll never part

Aiya aiya...

We're threaded together and we'll never part

We're here, we're here.

Very handsome; like a young man under twenty.

- Enough already. - Really, it's true.

- Finished? - Finished.

Xiao Hong, let's go.

I'll take you out for some fun.

- OK? - OK.

- Any tip? - No.

Bastard.

One dan of rice for one yuan!

Two dan of rice for one yuan!

One dan of rice for one yuan! Do you want to buy?

Will you buy if I drop the price? Two dan of rice for one yuan!

What other dishes will you have?

Bring a sauteed tripe, chicken fillets, and stir fried shrimp.

Anything else?

- Bring it out and we'll see. - OK.

Go. Get lost!

I saw it, I saw it with my own eyes.

After they bought the fabric, they went to a restaurant for some snacks.

I followed them up there too, until the waiter chased me off.

I saw Xiao Hong, she was really happy.

When that fatty gave her some cloth at the foreign fabric shop...

...she was also very happy.

As soon as I saw that fatty, I knew he was up to no good.

That's why I had Ah Bing follow him.

See, my eyes weren't wrong when I saw it!

Enough already! If you can't speak, then shut up.

- What do you want? - Look.

Xiao Hong!

- I hate you! - I hate you too!

- You shouldn't have... - Why shouldn't I have?

- Let me go! - I won't let you go!

- I'm going anyway! - Ok, if you go, make sure you never come back!

Let go! Let go...

What are you doing?

Put that down. You can't drink anymore!

Just let me be.

I'm too upset now. Just let me be.

No way. You're not much of a drinker. You've drunk too much.

Put it down! Do you hear me?

Chen...

Let me be! If you don't want to drink then don't.

Leave me alone. You...

Look at yourself. You're already drunk.

Come here.

Come here.

Xiao Hong, there's a customer calling. Why aren't you coming?

Come here!

Are you ignoring us? You...

Chen...

I told her to come down, so why won't she come down?

- Chen! - I just want her to come down.

- I want you to come down and sing. - Chen!

Oh, right, right, right.

Xiao Hong, the guest asked you to come down and sing. Didn't you hear?

What do you want sung?

How about "Sing-song Girl at the Ends of the Earth"?

Come down and sing. Quickly!

Private Rooms Upstairs

To the ends of the earth, oh, to the edge of the sea

I seek, oh, seek the soul mate who understands my song

This little sister sings, and her man plays along

You and I are of the same heart

Aiya aiya...you and I are of one heart

The mountains of home, oh, I gaze to the north

Tears, oh, tears wet my robe sleeve

This little sister longs for her lover man even now

My man, oh, through hard times our love runs deep

My man, oh, through hard times our love runs deep

He's upset. It's nothing to do with you.

I'm sorry.

- No need to see me out - That's OK

- I don't want to impose on you - Come back again for fun

- Go back in - Go back in, I'll escort him out

There's something I forgot to ask your madam about just now.

Please come in!

Madam...

There's something I want to talk about with you, but it's awkward.

But since I just had some wine, so I don't care if I make a fool of myself.

Since you've shown me so much respect, here's a little money for you to go shopping

- Stay a while, sit down. - No hurry.

I need to go to the Carefree Palace.

- You stay. - OK

Sister, what can we do?

Ask him?

I don't want to.

No, I don't want to.

Which bastard is there?

You?

Lucky for us you still have time to look us up.

Or are you looking for that piece of pretty fabric?

Xiao Hong

OK, OK, Xiao Hong, I'm sorry. Xiao Hong, forgive me.

OK, OK, Xiao Hong. Don't cry, Xiao Hong, don't cry.

I'm sorry. It's all my fault.

Please take it out on me, OK? Xiao Hong.

It's all my fault.

Xiao Hong, don't cry. Xiao Hong.

Don't cry, Xiao Hong.

Xiao Hong. Xiao Hong.

Xiao Hong, answer me!

You don't hate me, do you Xiao Hong?

I hate you.

If my sister hadn't made me come, I would have never come to see you again.

Your sister?

Was it your sister who sent you over here?

That man who took me to buy fabric and out to eat that time, he came to our place again today.

He was talking about me in mom's room. I heard everything they said.

I also saw him give some money to ma. They're selling me for sure.

- He gave her money? - Money?

Don't worry, Xiao Hong. There's still time to figure out a way out.

Come on, come here.

Sit down here. We'll help you think up a solution, OK.

But now will you treat me a little better?

Give me a smile...give me a smile...

You won't smile? OK then...

Hey, take a look!

Madam tried in court. 'Daughter' sues madam, with client as backer.

So we could sue too!

That's just what I mean.

But how do go about suing someone?

I'm not too sure about the details either.

That makes it harder.

Hey, look!

Lawyer Announcement

- What do you say we go see this one? - OK, let's go see him.

Are you feeling better?

- That wasn't much of an illness anyway. - OK, you come with us.

But how can we go like this?

No problem. I can wear my nice uniform.

I'll say that I work at the Customs House.

And me...?

You...

Take this cloth and say say you're a chauffeur. Yes, you're my chauffeur.

Look, she's laughing.

- Laugh, laugh, laugh - I didn't laugh

You didn't laugh? Does he look like my chauffeur or not?

Look, we're already standing above the clouds!

- This is really paradise. - That's for sure.

Paradise seems hotter than it was at home.

Warm alright.

Mr Bao is in.

Please have a seat.

Have you come to file a complaint?

No, we've come to sue.

Filing a complaint means to sue.

Yes, yes, we've come to file a complaint.

So what is the problem?

He's my chauffeur. He...

There's someone in his family...

Not my family!

Yes, right, it's his...

...one of his relatives, who...

Not one of my relatives either!

Well, then who is it?

It's about a, a neighbor.

I'm sorry, but according our practice, we charge five ounces of silver for an hour of consultation,

fifteen for a legal document,

one hundred to arrange for a hearing in court,

and five hundred for an appearance in court to represent a case.

I think perhaps you need to reconsider.

Five hundred ounces of silver?

- How much money is five hundred ounces of silver? - Damn, it costs money to bring a lawsuit!

I hadn't thought of that.

Five hundred ounces of silver.

Damn, it costs money to bring a lawsuit!

I've never heard of this before.

So what do we do now?

Don't panic. We'll think of something eventually.

Escaped Criminal Apprehended

Hey. What about this idea?

Xiao Hong

- No, no, that's not a good way.

Silly, you have us, so what are you worried about?

- And we have lots of friends willing to help out. - That's right. We have lots of 'brothers-in-arms.'

Quick. You go back first, and a little later, we'll help you escape across the 'bridge' across the alley.

OK, go back.

It's no good. This plan is no good.

Don't worry. If anything goes wrong, we can find our 'brothers' to help us out.

They'll help us out for sure.

Escaping...

...means she'll be living together with me!

Don't cry.

Go along with them.

They're all good people. They'll never treat you bad.

But what about you, sister?

Me?

They all dislike me. They look down on me.

I know.

Why don't you come with us?

No.

You're the one who's always out playing cards and now you want to blame me?

Do you really want a man to take care of domestic affairs?

Don't put on airs with me. Your ambitions don't make us any money.

When I gamble, it's with my own money.

And you're the one who's been teaching that girl to sing and taking her around to the wine houses.

She's your responsibility!

Fine, fine, let's not waste our breath on this anymore.

Are you thinking about moving over to my side?

Our place is better, you know. We face south and the rooms are bigger.

It's strange but last night those two scoundrels moved out on the sly.

No conscience, them. But that trumpet player is a nice man!

What trumpet player? I've never seen him.

Don't pay any attention to that. You ought to be asking Xiao Yun about this. She must know.

Otherwise why would she want to go across the lane.

Ask her. You'll see if I'm right or not.

Cheap slut!

No wonder you...Stop right there!

Where do you think you're going? Get in here!

Then I'll be off to tell Old Gu...

Close the door!

Come here!

If you don't tell me the truth, I'll kill you right here and now.

Take off your clothes.

Did you hear me?

Take off all your clothes.

Quicker!

Old Gu, would you like to eat a snack after your bath or have something to eat now?

Hungry again, huh?

- Is Mr. Gu here? - He's here. Just arrived.

Mr. Gu. So you're here.

I've been looking all over for you. It's terrible!

That little girl of mine, Xiao Hong. Last night, she suddenly ran away.

She ran away?

- Is it almost done? - Just about, almost done.

- Forget it! I can't stand sitting here anymore! - But I'm almost finished.

Xiao Hong, look what I bought you. I know you'll like it, look!

Give it to me! Don't curl my hair!

- When did you get this? Why didn't you tell me? - I've been carrying it for the last few days.

Wang, how come you're always pasting newspaper on the wall?

This broken down old wall, I can't stand looking at it.

What do you think we should give to Xiao Hong?

I think, I think I'll give her a comb.

- What about us? - I hadn't thought of that.

Xiao Hong, here's a comb for you.

- I don't want this broken old comb. - Hey, why don't you give her your earring instead.

- OK - I don't want this earring.

But it's not intended for your ears. Put out your hand.

This is our engagement ring!

Congratulations!

Quick, let's have a wedding celebration!

Hey, it's not done yet. Why don't you drink it all.

You...come on, drink up!

- Xiao Hong, you drink more too! - Oh. But I'm dizzy...

No matter. Who'll drink for Xiao Hong? Who?

Old Wang, why don't you have a drink for her?

Well, why do you sit there and not say anything?

- I've already drank a lot. - That's right. Old Wang is so happy tonight.

I've never seen him drink as much wine as he has tonight.

- Let's all be happy! - I...

- OK, enough already. - Don't stop him. Everyone's so happy tonight...

Let him finish his sentence.

I...uh...want Xiao Hong to...

...sing a song.

That's the best thing you've said in your life!

Xiao Hong, go on, sing.

No, I'm dizzy. I don't want to sing.

- You must sing. I'll go get my instrument. - Slow down. Do a magic trick for me then I'll sing.

Good idea, bravo!

Make way! Make way! Let me sit here.

Good.

This is the real stuff, no fooling around.

Here's another one.

It goes in this eye, it comes out from here. Now, go in!

Is that the real stuff or fooling around?

That one was called 'Silver Flying Away'

Do another one! Do another one!

OK, I'll do another one.

What's that one called?

- That was called 'Silver...' - I know, I know, I saw this in the paper.

Massive exports of silver last month

It's called 'silver coming out of the mouth'

Correct.

"Massive export of silver!" Hey, get your Daily News, hey, get your Shanghai News...

There's no business. What am I supposed to do?

We don't care if you don't have any business

You still ought to give us what you owe.

If you don't pay, how will my children eat?

Look, I even pawned my earring.

We could certainly feed another mouth.

Xiao Hong misses you a lot.

Why don't you run away too?

I think you should run away too.

I don't understand you.

And when night came and it was so quiet you couldn't hear a sound...

except the wind outside the windows sighing.

The room candle light flickered.

It was just then that...

the ghost came downstairs...

All you could hear from the stairwell was a series of thumps.

Sister!

Did they send you here?

Sister, here's some cool water.

- Chen, how could you... - Shut up!

- She wasn't... - Shut up!

I don't care why she's here, but she shouldn't come sneaking over here in the middle of the night.

She shouldn't be sneaking over here where we live.

How did she know we live here anyway. Who told her?

You must have told her.

Does this woman live here?

Does this woman live here?

Yes.

I wasn't asking you!

What do you say?

Yes.

Sister, I'm going to go cook some rice. They should be coming home soon.

Oh? You're home already? Look, my new dress is finished.

Oh. It's pretty. Very nice.

What? You're going upstairs?

Oh, well, the wall up there is broken, so I wanted to cover it up with newspapers.

- Do we have any paste? - Yes.

I bought you some medicine.

From now on, you don't have to live the kind of life you've been living.

Xiao Hong!

I can do that trick too.

I made up a new trick. Do you want me to show it to you?

This cup if full of red wine...

...and that one is full of green wine.

How about your rent?

Oh, right. I still have a dollar on me, why don't you take that?

- One dollar isn't enough. - Well, then, I'll give you more tomorrow.

OK.

Did you get their rent?

Yeah, he gave me one foreign dollar.

Foreign dollar? Idiot!

What were you thinking, taking a foreign dollar?

- Foreign dollars aren't any good anymore. - Foreign dollars aren't any good?

Your crazy. Foreign dollars aren't any good? You must be joking.

You don't get it. From today forward, anyone who uses foreign dollars could be prosecuted.

- Prosecuted? - Give it to me. I'll give it back to him.

Mr. Chen, can you exchange this for a paper bill?

What for? It's not as if foreign dollars are made of bronze.

No, foreign dollars aren't any good anymore. Didn't you hear about it?

No good anymore? You're joking. Then give it back to me.

- Do you have paper money? - No.

OK.

My hands are killing me, I can't move.

I need to cook the rice.

Don't worry. I'll make the rice appear in the glass.

- I don't believe it. - You don't believe it? Then close your eyes.

What was that noise?

It was the landlord.

He says, he says foreign dollars aren't any good anymore.

Foreign money no good?

Foreign money...

How did you get upstairs?

Why are you home so early?

I...

Damn! Does That must mean rents are going up again?

- Who was that talking? - That was the boss of the barber shop next door.

I was just looking for you.

What about your rent? Are you planning to pay or not?

- Who are you? - I am the rent collection agent.

- It used to be someone else. - There's been a change in management.

I'll be the collector from now on.

You must pay the three months of rent that you owe within three days.

If not, we'll request that you vacate.

Within three days?

- Damn - Boss, what's the problem?

Why such a temper this time?

OK, OK. You'll have to hurry up and find jobs elsewhere. We're closing up shop here!

Closing? Closing?

- Closing? - Closing?

Closing.

Don't. Don't cry.

Take this.

I have a way to prevent your boss from having to close.

You two come with me!

Hey! Quick, come on in! Big sale going on here!

Quick, come on in! Big sale going on here!

Hey! Two heads shaved for the price of one!

Hey! Shave a big head and get a small one free!

Let me through. let me through.

Here's one with hair!

Let me through.

Come on inside! Sit down!

It's very inexpensive.

I didn't come by to have my head shaved!

I came to see the boss, not get my head shaved!

Big sale, very inexpensive!

Bastards! Let me go!

Don't talk. Don't talk. Big sale today.

It's very cheap.

Bastards!

You'll be done soon.

The way they shave people is just like catching a pig.

We'll be done in a moment.

Don't worry. With us three shaving, you'll be done in a flash.

Help! Help...

Bastards!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Damn...Damn.

I'm sorry!

Damn

Damn...Damn.

For Rent

I've already found out where they live!

So have you seen that girl inside?

I haven't seen her exactly, but she has to be there.

It couldn't have been a coincidence that the day she disappeared

that little devil moved out too.

Moreover, I noticed a long time how that devil and Xiao Hong

sometimes carried on...

Mr Gu, what do you think we should do?

Just say the word and we'll take care of it.

OK, let's go have a look tomorrow.

Damn.

What should we do? Those two haven't come back yet either.

I've finally found you out!

I'm asking you, where is Xiao Hong. Tell me!

Tell me!

Quick. Tell me!

Cheap slut!

Hold on a second. Put that down.

You want to kill me huh?

Well, I'll kill you first!

Tell me, where is she?

Right. We should go up and have a look.

Keep an eye on her, Old Gu.

Old Gu!

She must have escaped that way.

Cheap slut!

Old Gu...Old Gu!

Old Gu?

Old Gu! Could it be that he's setting us up to take the fall?

Think about it. Am I right or am I wrong?

- Don't try to stop me! - Don't do it!

- Why not? - What are you going for?

- I'm going to fight. - Is it worth it?

- What do you mean by that? - Is it worth fighting for that kind of woman?

- What are you saying? - Is it worth fighting for that kind of woman?

Old Wang

I'm sorry.

Chen!

Chen, where do you think you're going?

I'll...I'll go find her for you.

Calm down!

This isn't some kind of game.

Xiao Yun! Xiao Yun!

Are you injured? Xiao Yun!

Quickly!

Old Wang is back!

Quick! You all look after her and I'll go find a doctor.

Ah! Sister!

Xiao Yun.

I'm sorry.

We all share the same miserable fate.

What does forgiveness mean anyway?

Sister!

Don't be sad, Xiao Yun.

Rest easy.

Wang has already gone to get you a doctor.

A doctor?

Old Wang?

Old Wang is a real friend...

Old Wang...

Is that him coming back?

No, that's not him. That's just the policeman on the night beat.

- Old Wang will be back any moment now. - Police?

Police? What's he coming here for?

To arrest people?

To arrest me?

To arrest him?

- Arrest him! ... Arrest him! - Xiao Yun

- Xiao Yun. - Let him go.

- Xiao Yun - Let him go.

It's OK, nothing is happening, Xiao Yun.

Your eyes are playing tricks on you, Xiao Yun.

Release him.

Release him.

He's a good man.

He helps poor people.

Ants.

Ants.

Sister!

She's gone to sleep.

Are you tired?

Not enough money. The doctor won't come.

Mingxing (Star) Film Company Production