ISSN:
0305-7410
Source:
Cambridge Journals Digital Archives
Topics:
Linguistics and Literary Studies
,
History
,
Political Science
,
Sociology
,
Economics
Notes:
During the period from 1949 to 1957, which was the year prior to the big leap forward, our country had only ten motion picture studios (six of which were for feature films), and 19 shooting sheds. Now, there are 33 studios (11 of which produce feature films) and 27 shooting sheds. As to projection units, in 1949 there were only some 600 motion picture theatres and not even one mobile projection team in the whole country; by the end of 1957, the number of projection units had risen to 9,965; and preliminary statistics showed that there were about 14,500 units by the end of 1959. As a result of the development of this projection network, the people have more and more chances to see movies; movie audience jumped from 1,750 million man/times in 1957 to 4,050 million man/times in 1959.... During the eight years between 1949 and 1957 we had produced a total of 171 artistic films; but during the past two years since the beginning of the big leap forward, the number of artistic films we have produced is estimated to have reached some 180.... Formerly a feature film needed at least four or five months to shoot, and in some cases it needed a whole year or an even longer time. This time has been greatly shortened since the beginning of the big leap forward. Take, for example, the 18 artistic pictures produced last year as a token to celebrate the National Day; most of them were shot within four or five months, and several were completed within three months. With respect to cost, it drops greatly with the increase in the quantity of production and the shortening of the time for shooting.... With respect to quality which is a question of capital importance, all the 36 films of various kinds produced in celebration of National Day last year were markedly better ideologically, artistically and technically than films made earlier. Of course, strictly speaking, even these relatively better films still have shortcomings in certain respects and various degrees....
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0305741000022839
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