The Lady Who Sells Her Shadow

After reading about my interest in Liu Qi, the "Marilyn Monroe of China", fellow retro blogger Dev Yang sent me the above cover and following article — which he kindly translated — from the Kong Ngee Movie Pictorial (May 1954). It's a fun and fascinating look at an apparently superb actress who's been practically forgotten nowadays.

Liu Qi—The Lady Who Sells Her Shadow
by Xiao Han

I first met Liu Qi in Shanghai. She had just left Chungking and was living with her girlfriend on the fourth floor of the luxurious Paramount Hotel. It was the hotel’s largest suite and comprised several rooms. At the time, I was close to her roommate. Although I had barely made her acquaintance, I was struck by her unique beauty: not very pretty but charming and sexy.

Her roommate once told me, “Back in Chungking, Liu Qi was a notable figure, not only because of her reputation as a stage actress but also for her people skills. But don’t think that she is the kind of socialite who sells her body for money. She’s not like those social butterflies in Shanghai.”

I watched Liu Qi’s screen debut in Shanghai, The Man Who Sells His Shadow (1948), and found both her appearance and acting quite appealing. “Quite appealing” was my pet phrase for her, because I truly believed that she had a bright future in the film industry, especially since there were a lot of mediocre actresses at the time, and she was clearly a cut above them all. However, her girlfriend once told me, “Liu Qi will not remain in the film industry forever. She has a great, beautiful dream she wants to pursue.” I was keen to know more about this dream, but my friend said it was a secret. And because I wasn’t so close to Liu Qi, I decided it would be impolite to “interrogate” my friend further.

I met Liu Qi again after I emigrated to Hong Kong. Both of us were surprised by that feeling of “old friends meeting abroad”. (To avoid any unwanted speculation, I should clarify that it was probably only myself who felt this way.) Since then we’ve had more opportunities to get to know each other. I still fondly remember the time we met on New Year’s Day in 1951 at a party thrown by the Hong Kong Actors Guild at the Nanyang Studio. I danced with her several times and asked her about herself. I adored her witty replies, one of which was: “I guess I’m finally ready to sell my shadow”. I was confused at first, but then I understood her meaning: she was ready to commit herself wholeheartedly to the Eighth Art. Indeed, don’t all actors and actresses sell their shadows?

Since resuming her career in Hong Kong, Liu Qi has played mostly supporting roles, despite the fact that she is an experienced and versatile actress. She was remarkable in several of her movies and often stole the limelight from the leading players. As a result, it’s been rumored that some of the top actresses are jealous of Liu Qi and pray that they won’t have to appear in same film with her. Unfortunately, most Hong Kong directors are only concerned with the leading lady and willingly change the script at her behest, which leaves little room for Liu Qi to demonstrate her chops. Such discrimination isn’t fair, and many people feel sorry for her. When she’s asked why, with her beauty and ability, she still hasn’t gotten the chance to become a lead actress, Liu Qi just replies with a smile. Actually, I think this situation is due to the narrow-minded belief of the industry that the “experienced and mature” type will always be the “experienced and mature” type. But thankfully producer Fung Ming-yuen recognized Liu Qi’s qualities and talent and cast her as the leading lady in his latest project, Night Homecoming, based on Cao Yu’s play "The Wilderness".

Yan Jun, currently the top actor in Hong Kong, agreed to costar with Liu Qi in this project. (Their first film together was in fact The Man Who Sells His Shadow, which was also Yan Jun’s own breakthrough as a leading man). Although I know for a fact that Liu Qi personally asked him to join the production, Yan Jun didn’t do it only as a favor. “Liu Qi is a great actress. She shouldn't be undervalued or ignored. She’s just as good as those ‘leading ladies’ out there and ought to be given more opportunities before she becomes a casualty of the star system. Liu Qi is an old friend from my Shanghai days, and it’s my duty to help her out.”

Night Homecoming is now finished, and Liu Qi's performance is extraordinary. Critically acclaimed, it’s her best since she started “selling her shadow”. Thanks to the film, Liu Qi has been recruited as the leading lady of the newly established Asia Pictures and will soon appear in two upcoming features, The Heroine and Tradition. Her future is now looking very bright indeed.

Compared to the leading ladies of other studios, Liu Qi is taller and more statuesque—and weighing in at 132 pounds, the heaviest among them. But thanks to her even proportions and exquisite curves, she looks balanced and refined, especially on the silver screen. Currently, she is undergoing an intensive exercise regimen to bring down her weight and is aiming for 125 pounds by the end of March.

Among her colleagues, Liu Qi is known as “Sister Hussy” because she is outspoken and likes to tell dirty jokes. But at work or on formal occasions, she is always gracious and well mannered. Liu Qi also loves dancing and playing mahjong. These are her only two hobbies. She holds a record for 60 consecutive rounds of mahjong. And when it comes to dancing, she has been described as “The Rival without Equal among All Men”. Once she went to the Happy Palace Club with thirteen men and danced with them nonstop for two hours. She laughed and said, “I played ‘One Woman and Thirteen Men’. What’s the big deal?”

Now, isn’t she witty?

Liu Qi: Bigger than Marilyn

Do you remember Liu Qi and her funky knit leotard from a few months ago? Well, I recently stumbled upon some amusing articles about Miss Liu in the American press.

It appears that in 1953 she was being touted via AP's photo wire as "the Marilyn Monroe of China" (Syracuse Herald, October 9, 1953). The caption mentioned her latest film as being Tradition, which was one of the first productions of Asia Pictures, a U.S. government–funded film company founded by Zhang Guoxing, a former correspondent for United Press International. The studio was a part of a larger campaign to counter Communist influence in Hong Kong and overseas Chinese communities through the deployment of soft propaganda. Apparently, a key ingredient of which was good ol' American cheesecake.

Some months later, however, Liu Qi was apparently taking issue with her new nickname. The following articles, however contrived they may be, seem to offer a genuine glimpse of the proud Miss Liu, as well as some insight into the complex situation of being a Chinese film star in the Cold War era.

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Buxom Chinese Actress Refutes 'Marilyn' Title
by Albert Yuan

TAIPEH, Formosa, May 23 (UP) — A curvaceous Chinese movie actress from Hongkong bitterly refuted her unofficial title, the "Chinese Marilyn Monroe," today and loudly proclaimed she was being victimized.

"I really don't know why you newspapermen always link my name with her," she said angrily.

"I am Liu Chi," she said, perking her heavily lipsticked mouth.

But a close female associate, in a position to know, quickly muttered, "She has a bigger bust than Marilyn."

Proves Point

Miss Liu Chu has a 37-inch bust to prove her point.

After five days of entertaining National Chinese troops with other charmers from Hongkong, luscious Liu Chi sneaked out for a shampoo.

In a secluded beauty parlor, Miss Liu bitterly exhibited her Oriental pride and features.

"Do I look like Marilyn Monroe?" she asked this correspondent.

"You look better," I replied, numb with admiration for her buxom beauty.

She angrily snorted and returned to her shampoo.

One Inch

The United Press, in a close check, found out that Miss Liu Chi outdid Mrs. Joe DiMaggio by at least one inch.

"If I were in Hollywood," the Hongkong actress said, "I would be more glamorous than she."

Miss Liu Chi appeared exhausted after shaking hands with nearly 3,200 Nationalist soldiers who had waited hours to see her.

Her itinerary had included Tachen Island off the China mainland coast, but her trip to that island was cancelled because of the fighting there.

— Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 23, 1954

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Most Women Wriggle Hips, She Says
Chinese Star Sees Nothing Unusual about Monroe Walk
by PETER SUM

HONGKONG — UP — Hongkong's answer to Marilyn Monroe thinks the Hollywood star's celebrated walk is "every woman's walk."

Liu Chi, who has a 36-inch bust, 24-inch waist, a 37-inch hip, and the "Monroe walk," said:

"The Monroe walk is every woman's walk and there's nothing peculiar about it."

The 28-year-old Chinese star is not one to run down the male population.

Plays Other Woman

"A man is just as untrustworthy as a woman," she said. "If a woman complains that her man is untrustworthy, then why permit him to be her man?"

Miss Liu, a native of Peiping, began making movies five years ago. Earlier she acted on the stage in China's wartime capital of Chungking.

She came to Hongkong from Shanghai when the Communists were threatening that city in 1949, and since then she has made six movies. She usually plays the part of "the other woman."

Plans To Visit U.S.

Miss Liu made a trip to Tokyo and Formosa in February this year. She said she went to Tokyo for "recreation" and to Formosa to "boost the morale of Nationalist troops" and "to comfort freed former Chinese prisoners of war from Korea."

Like most other successful Chinese movie actresses who are now in Hongkong, Miss Liu plans to visit America, especially Hollywood.

"I am applying for an entry visa for the United States where I wish to remain as long as my money and the U.S. authorities permit me," she said.

Asked whether she will consider making movies in the United States, the oval-faced beauty said:

"It has to depend on whether American producers have an eye for me."

— Lubbock Evening Journal, June 25, 1954

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As far as I know, Liu Qi never did make it to Hollywood. But she most definitely caught the eye of this humble blogger. Stay tuned for more about the lovely Miss Liu.

Hong Kong Fashionistas: Sweet and Sour

Don't you just love Wong Gam Oi's sweet bobby-soxer look, with silk jacket in lieu of a sweater.


Holy mother of funk! Liu Qi's knit leotard struts that fine line between sexy and nappy. Looking at it makes my eyes pucker with pleasure!