The story of the Shaw Brothers Studio is a fascinating one. There were 4 brothers Runje, Runde, Runme and Run Run.

Runje founded the Tianyi Film Company in 1925 in Shanghai. He retired in 1937. After the CCP victory in 1949 he was a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He died in 1975 aged 80.

Rumor has it that during the Sino-Japanese war the Shaw's buried their wealth in their backyard and came back for it after the war. They also did some movies for the Japanese allegedly.

The strength of the Shaw Brothers was creating a pan-Asian monopoly that lasted into the 1980s. This was started by Runde Shaw who in 1927 set up links in Malaya. While in 1957 Runme and Run Run set up shop at Clearwater Bay in Hong Kong.

They also had connections in Thailand. Runde had moved production to Hong Kong in 1937 to be accurate but they owned the studios, theaters, marketing, actors, distribution ect.

Runme Shaw was focused on Thailand mostly he was given presented by credit for Shaw Bros. films until his death in 1982.

Runme Shaw died in 1985 excuse me, but the movies I've seen said "Presented by: Runme Shaw" up until then. Afterwards it was presented by Run Run Shaw. At least what I've seen

But arguably Run Run Shaw is the face of Shaw brothers. Even after his death in 2014, he will be remembered as part humanitarian and part capitalist influencer.

Part of the reason Shaw Brothers stumbled was competition from former head of production Raymond Chow and Leonard Ho's Golden Harvest and Bruce Lee going with them but it was also a bit of a brain drain due to corruption at Shaw's which was a big deal.

I remember reading somewhere that the Shaw's were mad because of Gordon Liu and Alexander Fu Sheng having english names and gaining international fame.

But who knows