The Cave of the Silken Web

The Cave of the Silken Web was a huge boost for the young film industry in Shanghai and major resources were used for dramatic scenery and period costumes. All future major movie stars were involved and a new standard was set in both the delivery time and special effects. The result was so spectacular that it was the first Chinese film to be screened in Norway. Extremely important – since this film copy has survived to our days and recently appeared in the National Library archives. Until now, the film has been deemed a lost national treasure in China and it attracted a lot of attention when they learned that it had appeared here in Norway. krj

Dan Duyu was a successful portrait painter who was fascinated by the film, and in 1920 started Yingxi Shanghai – China's second film company. The first film they did was Hai Shi (1922), China's second feature film. The film's success laid the foundation for the company's growth and Duyus own career as China's foremost director (over 40 films).