Wan-go H.C. Weng film collection, circa 1938-1991, bulk 1948-1980

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Series 1: "Land of China", 1948-1951

The films are the earliest of Weng's works included in the collection. Each of the films profiles a different Chinese city or town – specifically the four major cities listed in the film titles, and Changshu, the titular "Town by the Yangtze," Weng's hometown. Each film runs approximately 10 minutes long and features color footage shot silently and English-language narration. Research shows that the films were shot in China during Weng's visit to China in 1948 and released as educational films in the US beginning in 1951. Elements included in the collection are master picture elements for all five titles (single-roll reversal for the first four and A and B rolls for the last), master sound elements for all five titles, two release prints of Yangtze, and additional original footage from Peking, Hangchow, and Nanking. These films are almost certainly the most interesting in the collection from a historical perspective, as they were all shot in China in the interim between the end of World War II and the coming to power of the Communist regime. Filmed in vivid Technicolor, they depict street scenes, artistic and architectural highlights, and people at work, among other subjects. Titles include in this series: Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder／马可波罗的奇迹发现北平; Tientsin, Gateway to North China／北中国的门户天津; A Town by the Yangtze／扬子江边的小城; Hangchow, China's Garden City／园林城市杭州; Nanking, the Southern Capital／南方都会南京.

Request Box 26

Box 26 Container WW0110 Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder, 1 film reels

Access digital content: Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder

Production Co.: China Film Enterprises of America

Request Box 10

Box 10 Container WW0111A Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder, 1 film reels

Box 10 Container WW0111B Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder, 1 film reels

Access digital content: Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder

Box 10 Container WW0120 Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder, 1 film reels

Box 10 Container WW0121 Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder, 1 film reels

Access digital content: Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder

Producer: Wan-go Weng. Production Co.: China Film

Box 10 Container WW0122 Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder, 1 film reels

Access digital content: Peking, Marco Polo's Wonder

Producer: [Wan-go Weng]. Production Co.: China Film. Content Summary: Peking cuts - 天壇, 北海, 动物, 植物

Box 10 Container WW0112A Town By the Yangtze, A, 1 film reels

Producer: [Wan-go Weng].

Box 10 Container WW0112B, WW0113 Town By the Yangtze, A, 2 film reels

Access digital content: Town By The Yangtze

Producer: [Wan-go Weng].

Box 10 Container WW0114A Town By the Yangtze, A, 1 film reels

Producer: Wango Weng. Production Co.: Pictura

Box 10 Container WW0114B Town By the Yangtze, A, 1 film reels

Producer: Wango Weng. Production Co.: Pictura

Box 10 Container WW0115 Town By the Yangtze, A, 1 Reels

Request Box 4

Box 4 Container WW0034 Town By the Yangtze, A, 1 film reels

Producer: Wango Weng. Production Co.: China Film Enterprises of America

Request Box 47

Box 47 Container WW0035 Town By the Yangtze, A, 1 film reels

Producer: [Wan-go Weng].

Request Box 13

Box 13 Container WW0192 Town By the Yangtze, A, 1 film reels

Producer: Wan-go Weng. Production Co.: China Film Enterprises of America. Content Summary: A film about Yu Shan Changshu in Jiangsu Province; P-104; reproduced on DVD

Request Box 32

Box 32 Container WW0250 Town By the Yangtze, A, 1991 April 13, 1 film reels

Producer: [Wan-go Weng]. Production Co.: Pictura Films Distribution Corp.

Request Box 26

Box 26 Container WW0116A Hangchow, China's Garden City, 1 Reels

Access digital content: Hangchow, China's Garden City

Producer: [Wan-go Weng]. Content Summary: 5 rolls in container: wango's 杭州(W.P. CUTS) ; 杭州剑池 (ORIG. KODA) ; wango's hangchow = 西湖 ; ekta master WENG 杭州.

Box 26 Container WW0116B Hangchow, China's Garden City, 1 Reels

Producer: [Wan-go Weng].

Box 26 Container WW0116C Hangchow, China's Garden City, 1 Reels

Producer: [Wan-go Weng].

Box 26 Container WW0116D Hangchow, China's Garden City, 1 Reels

Producer: [Wan-go Weng].

Box 26 Container WW0116E Hangchow, China's Garden City, 1 Reels

Producer: [Wan-go Weng].

Request Box 10

Box 10 Container WW0117A, WW0117B Hangchow, China's Garden City, 2 film reels

Access digital content: Hangchow, China's Garden City

Producer: Production photography & art: Wango Weng. Production Co.: Zhongguo dian ying qi ye guo ji gong si (中國電影企業國際公司)

Box 10 Container WW0118A Nanking, the Southern Capital, 1 film reels

Written: Wango Weng. Producer: Wango Weng. Production Co.: China Film Enterprises of America

Box 10 Container WW0118B Nanking, the Southern Capital, 1 film reels

Access digital content: Nanking, The Southern Capital

Written: Wango Weng. Producer: Wango Weng. Production Co.: China Film Enterprises of America

Box 10 Container WW0119 Nanking, the Southern Capital, 1 film reels

Producer: Wan-go Weng. Content Summary: Chinese traditional music recordings without images; reproduced on DVD

Box 10 Container WW0123 Nanking, the Southern Capital, 1 film reels

Access digital content: Nanking, the Southern Capital

Producer: [Wan-go Weng].

Box 10 Container WW0124 Tientsin, Gateway to North China, 1 film reels

Production Co.: Eastman Kodak Company

Request Box 9

Box 9 Container WW0125A, WW0125B Tientsin, Gateway to North China, 2 film reels

Access digital content: Tientsin, Gateway to North China

Written: Wango Weng. Producer: Wango Weng. Production Co.: China Film Enterprises of America

Series 2: Films sponsored by Li Sumin, 1949-1979

In this series, the films on traditional Chinese arts and crafts were sponsored by Sumin Li(李叔明, 1900-1973), a Chinese banker, industrialist, and publisher, in the early 1950s. Each film runs approximately 15-20 minutes long and features color footage shot silently and English-language narration. They were released as educational films for the U.S. market. The films are composed entirely of shots of Chinese art and artifacts from the collections of US museums. The collection includes master picture and sound elements (picture and optical track negatives) for all four films, prints of all four films, and additional original reversal footage from Chinese Sculpture. Titles include in this series: Chinese Sculpture Through the Ages／历代中国雕塑; Chinese Ceramics Through the Ages／历代中国陶瓷; Chinese Painting Through the Ages／历代中国绘画; Chinese Bronzes of Ancient Times／中国古代青铜器; The Story of Chinese Art／中国艺术的历史.

Series 3: "Art of China" and "Crafts of China", 1947-1991

The films in this series depict various Chinese art forms through demonstrations by skilled artisans (including Weng himself in the painting episodes), as well as shots of art objects similar to those in the Li Sumin films. The films were filmed in the early 1950s. Each film runs approximately 10 minutes long and features color footage shot silently and English-language narration. The collection contains master picture and sound elements for five of the seven listed films (excepting Folk Dances and Dressmaking), prints for all seven films, and additional sound elements and original footage for many of the films. Titles include in this series: Chinese Shadow Play／皮影; Chinese Jade Carving／玉雕; Two Chinese Dances/Chinese Folk Dances／民族舞蹈; Painting the Chinese Landscape／山水画; Painting the Chinese Figure／人物画; Chinese Dressmaking／服装工艺; Chinese Firecrackers／焰火鞭炮.

Series 4: "Chinese History", 1963-1980

The series is also known as the "China: The Enduring Heritage" series. This 13-part series on Chinese history and the affiliated film Buddhism in China were produced by Weng under the auspices of the China Institute in America, an organization for which Weng later served as president for several years in the 1980s. The series was filmed between 1972 and 1974, and was release in 1977. They were initially screened at museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, and the St. Louis Art Museum, then distributed as educational films by the Indiana University Audio-Visual Center on film and later, VHS. As with many of Weng's films, the footage consists largely of Chinese art and artifacts filmed in museums. The museum footage is supplemented by other documentary footage licensed from a variety of sources, including the BBC Film Library, the 1968 film Two Faces of China, directed by Magnum photographer René Burri, and Requiem for a Faith: Tibetan Buddhism, directed by Elda Hartley. The films run approximately 20 minutes each and feature color footage shot silently with English-language narration. Titles include in this series: Episode 1: The Beginnings; Episode 2: The Making of a Civilization; Episode 3: Hundreds of Schools to One; Episode 4: The First Empires; Episode 5: The Great Cultural Mix; Episode 6: The Golden Age; Episode 7: The Heavenly Khan; Episode 8: The Age of Maturity; Episode 9: Under the Mongols; Episode 10: The Restoration; Episode 11: The Manchu Rule; Episode 12: Coming of the West; Episode 13: The Enduring Heritage; Buddhism in China.

Series 5: Selected Other Films, Produced/Directed by Weng Wango, 1945-1980

The films in this series are produced or directed by Weng Wango, dating from 1945 to 1979. Some of the major titles include in this series: Chinese Kitchen (unknown); East in the West (1947); Chinese Brushwork (1971); Chinese Art: Of Heaven, Earth, and Man (1979). A Christmas Story (episode of "The Big Picture") (c. 1961) is an episode of the U.S. Army-produced television show featuring soldiers celebrating Christmas with their families. The Expo '70 Films (1970) are three short films ("Ceramics," "Silk," "Printing") produced for Expo '70, held in Osaka, Japan. Of the various elements in the collection, it is unclear which, if any, represent the most definitive versions of the films. It is also unclear whether the films are meant to have sound – they may have been played silently at the Expo with some sort of live accompaniment. The Buddhist Service at the Cathedral of the Pines (1971) is a filmed record of a service at the Cathedral of the Pines in New Hampshire, the collection contains master picture and sound elements for this film, as well as prints, and other original footage. Also include are films produced by Weng, but were undated.

Series 6: Selected Other Films, Collected by Weng Wango, circa 1944-1967

The films in this series were collected by Weng Wango. Despite that these films seem to have had no creative input from Weng, future research could uncover additional information. The films include a number of U.S government and United Nations films with Chinese-language soundtracks, suggesting that Weng may have been involved in translating, re-recording, or distributing these versions of the films. Films include are: Why We Fight, Episode 7: The Battle of China, Chinese Version (U.S. Government, 1944); Defence of Peace, Chinese version (United Nations, 1946); Maps We Live By, Chinese Version (United Nations, 1948); Green Gold, Chinese version (United Nations, 1949); The Chinese Peasant Goes to Market (John Gutmann, 1949); Operation Deep Freeze (U.S. Navy, c. 1957); The Abduction of the Emperor of Japan (Daniel Stampler, Bradley Smith, 1966); A Child's Garden of Verse (Wil Berg, 1966); Exploring the World of Chocolate (1967); Living Legend films (Armand Denis, date unknown): The Giant (elephant) and The King (lion); Turbine Was a Lady (Westinghouse, date unknown); Footage from Rene Burri and Hartley films.

Series 7: Combined, Miscellaneous, or Unidentified, 1949-1975, undated

This series consists of combined, miscellaneous, unidentified films. Some unknown materials contain dates while others contain title but without dates. Future digitization and research could uncover additional information on the films.

Series 8: Newly Digitized [2023-2024]

Request Box 32

Box 32 Container WW0416 Painting original cuts, 1 film reels

Box 32 Container WW0421 Buddhist Service at the Cathedral of the Pines, 1 film reels

Box 32 Container WW0426 Shirley Temple's Pic Preview, 1 film reels

Box 32 Container WW0429 Painting original cuts, 1973, 1 film reels

Box 32 Container WW0430 Ceramics original cuts, 1 film reels

Box 32 Container WW0446B The Legacy- 3 min Animation - Color Printing, 1 film reels

Request Box 29

Box 29 Container WW0449A Prof Wu Potter/WP Trims, 1 film reels

Box 29 Container WW0451 Workprint - Folktales: Monkey and Frog, 1 film reels

Box 29 Container WW0452 Folktales music, 1 film reels

Audio only

Box 29 Container WW0453 Music A - Monkey, 1 film reels

Audio only

Box 29 Container WW0454 Workprint - Folktales: Monkey and Frog, 1975, 1 film reels

Box 29 Container WW0456 Workprint - Folktales: Monkey and Frog, 1976, 1 film reels

Box 29 Container WW0457A Workprint - Folktales: Monkey and Frog, 1976, 1 film reels

Box 29 Container WW0457B Workprint - Folktales: Monkey and Frog, 1976, 1 film reels

Box 29 Container WW0457C Forest original, 1 film reels

Box 29 Container WW0458 Buddhist Service at the Cathedral of the Pines, 1 film reels

Request Box 30

Box 30 Container WW0459 Bronze- Orig Cuts 3, 2 film reels

Box 30 Container WW0460 Sesshu Landscapes Mori Collection, 1 film reels

Box 30 Container WW0461 Orig Koda #A1608 Lius(?) Footage, 1 film reels

Box 30 Container WW0463 Painting- Orig- Cuts, 2 film reels

Box 30 Container WW0472 A Town by the Yangtze- Orig Outs(?) Rolls 1-7, 1 film reels

Box 30 Container WW0476 Exposed Buddhist Ceremony, 1 film reels

Audio only

Box 30 Container WW0477 Silk and Seal Original Cuts, 1 film reels

Box 30 Container WW0478 Original Chinese Sculpture Cutouts #3, 1 film reels

Box 30 Container WW0484 Printing Chinese Landscape, 1 film reels

Production Co.: China Film Enterprises of America Inc.

Request Box 31

Box 31 Container WW0488A WK Print - Outdoor Nelson Gallery, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0490A Sun Moon Lake Sunset orig, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0490B Expo '70, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0491 Nelson Gallery 1979 Wk Print Cuts I HD (to Tang Lady), 1979, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0493 Expo '70, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0494 Nelson Gallery 1979 Wk Print Cuts II HD, 1979, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0497A WP Cuts from Rough Cut, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0497B One continuous Sun-Moon Lake, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0497C Maine Wave Breakers, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0498 Workprint - Folktales: Monkey and Frog, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0499 Chinese Shadow Play, 1 film reels

Distributed by Pictura Films

Box 31 Container WW0500 Untitled, 1 film reels

Box 31 Container WW0502 A Chinese Comic Dialogue, 1 audiocassettes

Box 31 Container WW0503 "Amitabha", 1 audiocassettes

Box 31 Container WW0504 Buddhist Ceremony 76 additional speech, 1 audiocassettes

Box 31 Container WW0505 Vajra(?) Crown 11/16/80, 1980, 1 audiocassettes

Box 31 Container WW0506 Fats- Million fellos(?), swings, Hopkins- those were the days, Laforet(?)- Jules & Jim- Homme = Femme/Tum Tum, 1 audiocassettes

Box 31 Container WW0507 Sakayami, 1 audiocassettes

Box 31 Container WW0508 Wango Narration, Cardiac (?)- MS&D- #8. 9, 1 audiocassettes

Box 31 Container WW0509 Untitled, 1 audiocassettes

Request Box 34

Box 34 Container WW0558 Buddhist Service - Orig. Ektachrome Reel 2, 1 film reels

Box 34 Container WW0563 Untitled, 1 cartridges

Request Box 29

Box 29 Container WW0565A Color W. Prt, 1 film reels

Box 29 Container WW0566A WP Misc A, 1 film reels

Box 29 Container WW0566B Introducing Chinese Painting - Voice, 1 film reels

Audio only

Box 29 Container WW0567A Introducing Chinese Painting, Hi-Con Orig, 1980, 1 film reels

Kwan S. Wong, after Shen Chou

Box 29 Container WW0567B HD "Wind", 1 film reels

Audio only

Box 29 Container WW0568A Untitled, 1 film reels

Box 29 Container WW0568C Untitled, 1 film reels

Audio only

Collection Overview

Collection Contents

Wan-go H.C. Weng film collection, circa 1938-1991, bulk 1948-1980

Series 1: "Land of China", 1948-1951

Series 2: Films sponsored by Li Sumin, 1949-1979

Series 3: "Art of China" and "Crafts of China", 1947-1991

Series 4: "Chinese History", 1963-1980

Series 5: Selected Other Films, Produced/Directed by Weng Wango, 1945-1980

Series 6: Selected Other Films, Collected by Weng Wango, circa 1944-1967

Series 7: Combined, Miscellaneous, or Unidentified, 1949-1975, undated

Series 8: Newly Digitized [2023-2024]