Shen Ji-cheng, originally named Shen Xueqian, was born in 1906 in Wuzhen, Tongxiang, Zhejiang, into a prominent family; his father was a late-Qing scholar in the rice and oil trade. Influenced by his maternal uncle Xu Lingyun, a celebrated Chinese playwright, he grew up with Kunqu opera and even performed on stage. While studying at Shanghai Jiao Tong University he began writing, contributing essays, film and drama reviews to Shun Pao and Xin Wen Bao. In the late 1920s he co-founded Xiao Ri Pao with the journalist Feng Mengyun and served as its chief editor, and he later founded Qiong Pao, becoming well known in Shanghai's press. He had already come to know Runje Shaw of Unique Film Productions, and when Shaw set up a Hong Kong studio, Shen moved there in 1932 as its public relations manager, also serving as chief photographer for Wah Kiu Yat Po and film department manager at the Ko Shing Theatre. In 1936 he founded Dapeng Film Company with Chow Sze-luk and Keung Pak-kuk, producing Island of Grievance (1937) and other films. When Run Run Shaw visited Hong Kong he invited the well-connected Shen to be Shaws Brothers (Singapore)'s Hong Kong representative, acquiring Cantonese films for Southeast Asian cinemas and arranging opera artists' tours. During the occupation he ran a rice and oil business and, passionate about racing, wrote horse-racing columns in Hong Kong News under pen names including his wife's name Lin Ying and 'Ji Ji'. After the war he recovered films detained by the Japanese on behalf of the Shaw brothers. From 1947 he became the main racing writer for Wah Kiu Yat Po and self-published Mystery Tips, gradually leaving the film world. He stopped writing in the mid-1980s after losing his left eye to cataracts, and died in Hong Kong on 6 March 1992.
Shen Ji-cheng was a rare cross-sector figure in 1930s Hong Kong cinema, combining public relations, distribution, production and journalism. He helped pioneer Shaws' early Hong Kong operations, acquiring Cantonese films and arranging opera artists' tours to Southeast Asia, linking local Cantonese cinema with Singapore and Malaya. After the war he recovered films detained during the occupation, and then wrote horse-racing commentary for nearly forty years, becoming a notable early tipster in Hong Kong.
Achievements
- 1932 · Moved to Hong Kong and became public relations manager of the Unique (HK) studio, handling its affairs.
- 1936 · Co-founded Dapeng Film Company with Chow Sze-luk and Keung Pak-kuk for production and distribution.
- 1937 · Produced films including Island of Grievance, Happiness Is a Well-Defended Home and The Glowing Pearl.