Watching movies makes me feel so happy "GROANS in the dark"
Journalist Luu Dinh Trieu, a person born and raised in Saigon, remembers the cinemas in his memories in the 1970s: "When I was a child, I lived in Bien Hoa, Dong Nai, often went to "watch tigers" at many cinemas showing re-released films from cinemas in Saigon. In 1973, I was 18 years old, went to Saigon to study Law School, that was when the world of cinema and reformed opera officially became an unforgettable memory of mine. I don't know if it was because of the influence of going to watch tigers in Bien Hoa when I was young, but the older I got, the more addicted I became to watching movies. Saigon is a very fertile land for the forest of movies from all over the country. It has about more than 60 cinemas of all kinds. There are big cinemas, small cinemas, regular cinemas, cinemas showing by show, there are many new cinemas but there are also cinemas specializing in showing old films. There are many cinemas in many places but I only choose the cinema near my school and with cheap tickets".
Poster of the movie Be Bang (Half a Life of Powder and Fragrance) with the beautiful actress Kim Cuong in 1961
Collector Vu Hai
"At first, I often watched at Le Loi theater, near Ben Thanh market (Le Thanh Ton street, now Khong Ten tea room). The regular customers were students... This theater showed old movies but all were good and the tickets were very cheap. Occasionally, I also dragged myself down to Long Phung theater, located on Gia Long street (currently Ly Tu Trong street; Long Phung theater is now the headquarters of the Opera Art Theater but is abandoned - PV). This place often showed Indian movies, the type of movies I used to watch when I was young. After a while of watching movies at small theaters, I discovered a large theater that was one of the most modern in Southeast Asia at that time, Rex, which specialized in showing French and American movies at very reasonable prices in the early morning showtime. The first time I set foot in Rex, I was somewhat overwhelmed by the large screen measuring 150 square meters. The movies shown here were 70 mm movies with a projector system that was only available at Rex. Leaning back on a soft cushioned chair, I was absorbed in watching Louis de Funès, a popular actor in French cinema in the 1960s and 1970s. Although he played a police chief, his every move and word exuded humor, making me laugh continuously. While watching the movie and listening to the stereo sound, I truly felt "groaning with joy" (a word that writer Duyen Anh often used in her works before 1975 - PV)", journalist Luu Dinh Trieu said.
Poster of the movie Storm of 1938 shown at Saigon Casino cinema
Collector Huynh Minh Hiep
"After that time, I often watched movies in the elegant and luxurious setting of Rex. A movie I watched here that made me yearn to find a girlfriend like in the movie was Love Story. The movie not only captivated me but also left a deep impression on the minds of many generations of viewers because the love story in the movie was so touching. Not to mention an immortal soundtrack and a line that many of my experienced friends consider a truth: Love means never having to say you're sorry," he shared.
Long Phung Theater is still on Ly Tu Trong Street with the sign "Hat Boi Theater" but is closed.
Theater owners make a lot of money
Many Vietnamese film studios before 1975, theater owners, and cinemas also made a fortune by buying exclusive films from around the world or producing Vietnamese films for theatrical release such as Tran Quoc Binh Film Studio, My Van Film Studio, An-Pha, and Group of Tre... Like the famous film by the famous actress Kim Cuong that "covered theaters" was Half a Life of Fragrance in 1961 (An-Pha Film Studio). Or films with actors whose names "guaranteed" revenue such as Thanh Nga, Tham Thuy Hang, Tran Quang, Hung Cuong, Chanh Tin, Bach Tuyet... were always given priority to be shown first in all theaters and always caused chaos in the "black market ticket" world.
Movie poster Dragon Tiger and Heroes Association , Eden Cinema Saigon, 1973
Collector Huynh Minh Hiep
"It is impossible not to mention the movie considered one of the first Vietnamese movies called Tran Phong Ba with 6 Vietnamese actors, filmed in Hong Kong in 1937, shown at Casino De Sai Gon theater in 1938 (later renamed Vinh Quang theater, now Liberty Hotel on Pasteur Street, District 1). It was not until early July 1938 that the movie Canh Dong Ma was released by Nam Trung Hoa Company (1 month after Tran Phong Ba). Although it was a little better than Tran Phong Ba , the audience as well as the press criticized the film's weaknesses," said collector Huynh Minh Hiep.
Movie poster shown at Casino Saigon cinema
Collector Huynh Minh Hiep
Usually, theaters open with a series of previews of the next week’s movie to advertise, some theaters open with performances by rising singers or variety and magic groups. In the middle of the show, there is a break for people to go outside to enjoy the cool air, drink water, eat ice cream, sugarcane… (because the popular theaters do not have air conditioning, only turn on ceiling fans high up).
Writer Ngo Ke Tuu concluded: "The cinema business in Saigon before 1975 was a money-making industry. Many people in the profession said that a theater owner who did well in business for about 7 years had enough money to build a new theater." (to be continued)
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