The Opium Wars

1959 1h 43m ZH

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 7

WarHistoryDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

China 1839. Because the British imports of opium into Southern China are creating such widespread medical and economic problems, the weak Manchu emperor Tao Kuang is forced to take action that precipitates the 'Opium War'.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Zhao Dan
Zexu Lin
Gao Zheng
Emperor Min Ning
Xia Tian
Chancellor Zhanga Mu
Han Fei
Minister Shan Qi
Deng Nan
Tianpei Guan
Gerald Tannebaum
Di Yan
Yong Li
Yuzhen Deng
Qin Yi
Kuansao A

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Zheng Jun-li
Writers: Ye Yuan
Languages: Mandarin
Countries: China

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

67 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Zheng Jun-li, shot by Huang Shaofen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Wang Yun-Jie. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Chaosheng Zhu shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Zhao Dan and Gao Zheng and Xia Tian carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0053010 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 7 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Zheng Jun-li directs. Huang Shaofen behind the camera. Wang Yun-Jie scores. Chaosheng Zhu cuts. Produced in China. Dialogue in Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

167 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Zheng Jun-li, shot by Huang Shaofen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Wang Yun-Jie. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Chaosheng Zhu shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Zhao Dan and Gao Zheng and Xia Tian carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0053010 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 7 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.