Chinese Film - zhang mao's army life?

[Max]

Here in San Francisco at the Four-Star theater, I once saw a film with what I remember the title as being "zhang mao's army life" but I could be way off! The story I believe was based on a comic strip and done live action with animated segments, with a young boy with three strands of hair falling onto his forehead. The film follows his mis-adventures in joining the army. Does anyone here know what the film was actually called, the director and if it's availible in any format? I sure would like to see it again, or know more of it's origin. Any help would be grateful.

[hifrank001]

三毛从军记 San Mao Cong Jun JI

creater: Zhang, Leping

[laolee]

I too would be interested in a little background on the San Mo character, like source, origins, etc.? I've seen that there are lots of films live and animated films around the character but never knew who he is. He seems to have been around a long time. Is he like a Master Q 老夫子 ?

[gato]

Here are the original comic books that brought San Mao into the world, originally drawn in the 1930s and 40s. He was just a poor orphan kid trying to survive in pre-1949 Shanghai. He was kind of happy-go-lucky but resourceful like the French Tintin. Since large parts of Shanghai were colonized by foreigners, the books also have an anti-imperialist bent. I don't think the political message overwhelmed the book's sense of humor, though.

You can find some of the books online here (just click on the links):

http://www.sdau.edu.cn/dushu/show.php?wenxueid=2146

http://www.joyo.com/shopbook/bkbk203062.asp?uid=mus9on0xqbssilmnz9gsqgg79&ref=search%2D%C8%FD%C3%AB

http://www.sanmaoworld.com.cn/sanmao/sanmao_army.html

[Max]

Thanks to all that have answer my query! That's why these message boards are always so important, getting solutions fast and direct.

[Max]

Here is a DVD product, and other VCD's were found at yesasia.com but sadly without english subtitles.

[laolee]

My thanks, too.

I found this:

[Max]

My thanks' date=' too.

I found this:

[img']http://www1.cnmdb.com/upload/images/title/2005/06/17/200506178811_1705.jpg[/img]

Wonderful! That's the movie poster that was featured at the Four Star theater! Thanks for for posting. The other vcd/dvd products that I saw at yesasia were older black and white films based on this character, but this is it!