SOME FUNDAMENTAL FACTS & FIGURES IN THE FILMING OF "THE SOUL OF CHINA"

Production

Time & Cost: Eight months and over amillion Hong kong dollars (the equivalent of US$200,000) went into the making of this single Picture, a new high in Chinese films, considering the low cost of labour in the Far East.

Preducer: The producer, Lee Tsu Yung, a classmate of the prominent American publisher, Henry Luce, studied in the States when motion pictures there were still in an early stage of development and returned to China, after the 1st World War, to become, insuccession. Professor of History and Arts in a national university, prince of printers and finally founder and sole proprietor of the Yung Hwa Motion Picture Industries Ltd., the largest film studio ever to be organized in the Orient. His knowledge of History and the Arts is amply attested by the astounding authority of "The Soul of China", the elaborate sets and costumes of which dating back to 18th Century China are correct to last detail, a veritable museum of Chinese art.

He is rated by some as the Arthur Rank of China in that his prestige pictures, of which "The Soul of China" is one to be followed by others, are bound to shake the Chinese film industry out of its present doldrums. His studio out fit, situated over a wide area in Kowloon Tong Village and recently given the once-over by the world-famous cinema to grapher James Wong Howe, is considered to be the last word in modern equipment and able to hold its own with any of the best in Hollywood.

Director: No pains have been spared in the selection of a suitable director for the picture. Richard poh, veteran movie director and master maker of Chinese costume pictures is the happy choice. With a long line of successful historical pictures to his credit, he has by his direction of "The Soul of China" eclipsed even his own excellent work in the epic picture, "Sable Cicada", Which had an extended runnty the U.S.A.

Script: Wu Tsu Kwong, nick-named the "Boy Prodig" in Chinese dramatic circles, adapted his own popular stage play, "Song of the Righteous Spirit" to the screen. Written during the darkest days of the Chinese war of Defence against Japanese Aggression and played to packed houses both during and after the War in all Parts of China, it has achieved new heights in its present screen form under the prolific pen of the same author, who at 80, is responsible for a great number of box-office hits on the Chinese stage and screen.

Stars: This is the only all-star cost picture worthy o its name in the history of Chinese films. The leading role of the great patriot, Wen Tien Hsiang, is played by Liu Cheung, best loved of all Chinese male stars. The female leads go to the Misses Sung Ching Lu, Yuan Mei Yun and Wong Shih Chum, three of the most popular and talented of Chinese film actresses. The supporting cast of 200 is comprised of a galary of some of the most brilliant stars in the Chinese film firmament such as Tao King Koo Er Yi and others.

Music: The music for the theme song of the pictures "Song of the Righteous Spirit", is composed by Professor Fan Chi Sun, Dean of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and winner of a nation-wide contest conducted by the Conservatory with a sizable reward. Maestro Chang Chun Fan and the Yung Hwa Philharmonic Orchestra are responsible for the fine film music, which is most aptly and adroitly adapted to the true tenor of the picture.

Miscellaneous: All other technical items are being handled by eminent experts under the over-all supervision of the producer himself, who has left no stone unturned in the making of a masterpiece which is in every sense a true monument to Chinese films.