The first aim of the new corporation was announced as "controlling the import and distribution of foreign pictures in Manchoukuo," and it is this feature of its programme which has brought it most forcibly to the attention of the public Although cinema theatres in Manchoukuo were not very numerous, yet in Dairen, Mukden, Changchun and Harbin were found a number. of houses equipped with high-grade apparatus. Nearly all of the houses showed American pictures and some specialized in these, though German. French, British, Italian and Czechoslovakia film were also shown Now, in this historic spot, one company has been shooting "A Star is Born. The scenario was prepared by members of the company's staff who, in all probability, are indebted for their inspiration, at least for the title, to American sources. This led to the natural question as to whether the new company had acquired, or considered acquiring the picture rights of any successful native or foreign stories. Apparently the company has other use for their capital for the answer was a decided negative, though an affable official qualified it by adding "Our company is only a five-months-old baby but ye have finished one picture, and are making two others."
Production work of the new company is a serious matter. One would hardly expect recommendations of the general staffs to result in the production of a colourful revue, though no one would be surprised if oe of the big scenes in the village hero was a military review. And if sugges-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.