Mulan Joins the Army (1939 film)

Mulan Joins the Army
Traditional	木蘭從軍
Simplified	木兰从军
Mandarin	Mùlán cóng jūn
Directed by	Bu Wancang
Produced by	Zhang Shankun
Written by	Ouyang Yuqian
Starring	Chen Yunshang
Production company	Huacheng Film Company Xinhua Film Company
Release date	February 1939 (1939-02)
Country	China
Language	Mandarin

Mulan Joins the Army is a 1939 Chinese historical war film. It is one of several film of the Hua Mulan legend, which have included two silent versions: Hua Mulan Joins the Army (1927) by Tianyi Film Company, and a less successful Mulan Joins the Army (1928) produced by Minxin. The story was also the basis for the 1998 Disney animated film, Mulan.

The film was directed by Bu Wancang and stars Chen Yunshang as the title character, a young woman who disguises herself as a man in order to take her father's place in the army. The screenplay was by Ouyang Yuqian. The film was produced in Shanghai by the Huacheng Film Company (華成), a subsidiary of the Xinhua Film Company.

Hua Mulan, the heroine, is a young maiden who lives with her elderly father during the Northern Wei dynasty. When China is invaded by evil nomads, her father is called into service by the Emperor. In a scene of filial piety, Mulan dons her father's old armor and takes his place in the army.

During training, the "feminine" Mulan is teased and harassed by other draftees whom she promptly beats one by one to the ground. Admonishing them to unite together instead of harassing one another, she reminds them that the true enemy are the nomads invading their country. Also during training, she meets Liu Yuandu who becomes her loyal friend. The two feel a natural attraction, even if Liu is unsure why (believing Mulan to be a man). These scenes therefore provide some comic relief and romantic intrigue.

Eventually Mulan is sent to the front line where she meets with the army's weak commanders who flirt with the idea of cooperating with the nomads rather than fighting with them. In particular, the advisor to the general pushes for collaboration. Feeling disgusted, Mulan dresses as a nomad and spies on the enemy when she learns that an attack is imminent. Returning to her home camp, her warnings are ignored by the general to disastrous results. When the attack finally happens, the General is killed, but not before putting Mulan in charge. Mulan regroups the Chinese forces and defeats the nomads, but not before Mulan herself kills the General's erstwhile advisor.