Abstract

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Title:: Sable Cicada in America: A Cross-Border and Cross-Cultural Journey of Early Chinese Cinema

Keywords:: Sable Cicada; cross-cultural communication; globalization awareness; cultural differences

Abstract:: In 1938, the Shanghai Xinhua Film Company released its elaborate mega-film Sable Cicada with specially printed English subtitles. The film lived up to its reputation, not only gaining a steady stream of popularity and word-of-mouth buzz but also attracting the attention of Haig, the manager of the Hai Alai Auditorium and a former Egyptian boxing champion. In November 1938, Sable Cicada premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, a venue that had never screened a film before and was not equipped to do so. The film's exportation and reception in the United States not only contributed to the legendary status of early Chinese cinema's international reach but also demonstrated that, in the cross-cultural dissemination of Chinese cinema, the locally adapted marketing strategy, along with the cultural uniqueness and authenticity of the film itself, are key factors influencing the effectiveness of its distribution.