Mandarin Film Cinema Circuits

Mandarin films were already shown in Hong Kong during the pre-war era, but cinema circuits dedicated to Mandarin films emerged only after the 1950s. Due to World War II and political instability in Mainland China, a huge number of Shanghai-based production companies relocated to Hong Kong. Increasingly divided left-right political factions, as well as the competition between Shaw & Sons Limited (Shaw & Sons) and Motion Picture & General Investment Co Ltd (MP & GI), both supported by funds from South-East Asia, all contributed to the rise of Mandarin films in Hong Kong in the 1950s to 1960s.

Screening of Mandarin Films at Foreign Film Cinema Circuits

In 1948, Yung Hwa Motion Picture Studios Limited was founded by Shanghainese entrepreneur Li Zuyong, producing films The Soul of China and Sorrows of the Forbidden City. Great Wall Pictures Corporation was established the following year, producing A Forgotten Woman and Blood Will Tell. All four films were jointly screened by King’s Theatre, Roxy Theatre and Liberty Theatre, which all showed English motion pictures.

During the early 1950s, the screening of Mandarin films was quite haphazard, with cinemas such as Rialto Theatre, Metrople Theatre, King’s Theatre, Capitol Theatre, Liberty Theatre, Princess Theatre and Majestic Theatre all playing a part. In 1956, Zenith Theatre and Empire Theatre finally formed the first-ever Mandarin film cinema circuit.

Promotion of Mandarin Cinema by China Theatre

Located in Wanchai, China Theatre opened in August 1948. Originally dedicated to showing Mandarin features, the cinema soon switched over to screening Cantonese films just after a year or so. China Theatre closed down in June 1952, and was taken over by Shaw & Sons. Reopening under the name of Rialto Theatre in November that same year, the cinema began showing Mandarin features produced by Shaw Studios.

A New Mandarin Film Cinema Circuit

On 30 January 1957, Zenith Theatre and Rialto Theatre joined forces to become a new Mandarin film cinema circuit which showed features from four different companies: Shaw & Sons and MP & GI with funds from South-East Asia, and Great Wall Movie Enterprises Ltd (Great Wall) and Southern Film Corporation with a leftist background. The circuit operated until 1961, after which Zenith Theatre and Metrople Theatre became partners, screening mostly films produced by MP & GI.

Rapid Development of the Shaw Circuit

Golden Theatre opened in November 1962, and together with Capitol Theatre and Sky Theatre, formed the early Shaw Circuit. It continued to expand through the inclusion of numerous other cinemas, developing into a dual cinema circuit in February 1967. One had six cinemas which included London Theatre and Capitol Theatre, while King’s Theatre and Hollywood Theatre were among the six belonging to the other. Different movies were shown at each circuit during the same period of time. In early 1968, the two circuits combined into a single entity consisting of ten cinemas. Jade Theatre, the first cinema operated by Shaw Brothers (HK) Limited, fronted the circuit after it opened in December 1969.

Establishment of the Cathay Circuit

Odeon Theatre opened for business in March 1963, and partnered with London Theatre and Broadway Theatre two years later to show features produced by MP & GI. In 1965, the film company briefly operated a circuit headed by Roxy Theatre and Sands Theatre. Subsequently, MP & GI was restructured to become Cathay Organisation (HK), whose films were occasionally screened by Mandarin film cinema circuits. In 1970, Cathay Organisation (HK) created its own circuit comprising eight cinemas which included Kam Ling Theatre, Kam Wa Theatre, Victoria Theatre and Isis Theatre.

The Mighty Golden Harvest Circuit

Golden Harvest (HK) Limited was established in January 1971, and announced the formation of “A new, dynamic circuit with 10 cinemas located in Kowloon and Hong Kong” which included the likes of Queen’s Theatre, Empire Theatre, Roxy Theatre, Rex Theatre and Sands Theatre. The company was at that time focusing on production and distribution of Mandarin features.

From the Ruby/Astor Circuit to the South China/Nan Yang Circuit

Silver Theatre and Ruby Theatre were established in 1963 and 1964 respectively. They formed the “Ruby/Astor Circuit” with cinemas such as Astor Theatre, Cathay Theatre and Ko Shing Theatre to show films from Great Wall, Feng Huang (Phoenix) Motion Picture Company and other movies produced in Mainland China. The circuit went on to become the “South China/Nan Yang Circuit”, which consisted of more than seven cinemas, following the opening of South China Theatre and Nan Yang Theatre.