Text on Flickr:
East meets west. Beat The Devil was released in 1954. Directed by John Huston. It starred Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones and Gina Lollobrigida. I don't know what the Chinese film is!
I wonder why the advertising board is used by two cinemas which are not too close together.
Source: This image came from Flickr, see https://flickr.com/photo.gne?id=32375034080
Date picture taken
1 Dec 1954
Gallery
Shows place(s)
Comments
Cinema Ads
Greetings, Klaus. It was likely that the two cinemas were operated by the same people, or the wall owner was renting out the space. As for the Chinese film title, it is a drama about a caring father and his obedient son. The title was meant to read from right to left which is more poetic, with the adjective after the noun. The name of the theatre and address on this ad also read from right to left. Reading the movie title from left to right (adjective before noun) has the same meaning but sounds less formal...... my take from learning the language decades ago. Regards, Peter
Re: Photograph
I noted the air raid shelter(s) next to the advertising boards. Perhaps the air raid shelters at the beginning of Queen's Road East in Wanchai near Victoria Barracks.The Rialto was close to the shelters.
HK Film Archive information on Chinese Film
A search of the Chinese film on the Hong Kong Film Archive search engine:
English version http://ipac.hkfa.lcsd.gov.hk/ipac/cclib/search/showBib.jsp?f=e&id=65537976384005
Chinese version http://ipac.hkfa.lcsd.gov.hk/ipac/cclib/search/showBib.jsp?f=e&id=6553732230405
Full of famous Cantonese actors and actresses of the 1950s. The information shows the film first showed on 11th November 1954.
breskvar
Screenwriter, Lee Lin (joint pseudonym of Lee Hang and Lo Dun) ; Producer, Chan Man ; Photographer, Wong Shek-lam ; Music, Cao Tian ; Art Director, Lee Wah ; Film Editor, Choi Cheong.
Wanli Film Studio, filming.
Lee Lin, screenwriter.
Handbill. 美國三藩市 : 世界戲院. 1 p. loose leaf : b&w, single sided ; 36 x 22 cm. Included《情燄》,《不要離開我》and《一代名花》advertisements. HB1471 (c.1-c.10).
Film Programme. 12 p. ; 18 x 13 cm. Included synopsis,《父母心》,《杜鵑魂》and《愛》advertisements. PR205.
Still. 7 styles (7 stills) : b&w ; 25 x 30 cm. PH3003.
Chan, Man (director, producer), producer.
Wong, Shek-lam, photographer.
Cao Tian, 1921/4/20-1994, music.
Lee, Wah (art of the 30-60's), art director.
Choi, Cheong, ?-2007/9/10, film editor.
Ng Cho Fan, 1911/7/4-1993/2/22 cast.
Lee Ching (actor of the 30-70's), 1912-2000/7/14, cast.
Cheung Wood Yau, 1910-1985/12/10, cast.
Pak Yin, 1920-1987/5/6, cast.
Lai Cheuk Cheuk, 1905/5/22-1990/5/15 cast.
Mui Yee, 1923-1966/8/17, cast.
Good Work
Good work in digging up the date of screening of the Cantonese movie. HKPL confirms the Empire was showing "Beat the Devil" at the same time.
Chinese name on the billboard
I am intrigued by the words "璇宮" next to the Empire sign on the top left. If the State Theatre was formerly named Empire until 1959, was the former Chinese name 璇宮?
breskvar
Chinese name on the billboard
Greetings, and yes breskvar, the former theatre Empire was called 璇宮. This Chinese name did not pop up during my internet search. Your question prompted me to take a closer look at the photos I posted on the State Theatre (formerly Empire) page. On the second photo, you can see on the right side of the photo a vertical sign 皇都 for the State Theatre. On the third photo for Empire Theatre, there is a Chinese sign on the roof top but almost impossible to verify it is 璇宮 due to the same background colour. Another hint is further down, under the letter R it appears to read 宮.
I traced back to my downloading of the Empire photo and noted the source labels it using the successor's named. I guess the former Chinese name has quietly faded away.
I will add the Chinese name to the former theatre. Thanks for your sharp eyes and excellent question. Regards, Peter
璇宮大廈
"I guess the former Chinese name has quietly faded away."
No it did not, OldTimer. I went past the joint over the weekend and found that the building right next to the theatre, fronting King's Road, was called Empire Apartments with the Chinese name 璇宮大廈. So the former Chinese name lives on with the former English name right next door.
In another photo (https://gwulo.com/atom/27785) this building is the pink one on the right hand side.
breskvar
Theatre Name Lives On
Thanks breskvar, I very much appreciate your survey of the place and the update. Regards, Peter