Behind the Velvet Ropes of Movie-Making

80th Anniversary of Cathay: Behind the Glamorous Scene exhibition sheds light on the history of how Cathay gained its iconic status.

Delve into the celebrated history of the heyday of Hong Kong movie-making as Cathay takes you back in time to the storied past of its pioneers.

Launched in Hong Kong in December 2015 by the Hong Kong Film Archive in commemoration of the important milestone of Cathay’s 80th Anniversary, the exhibition will make its way to The Cathay Gallery, located at level 2 of The Cathay. From 1 June to 30 November, step into the beautiful historical landmark, where it first started, and be taken on a journey through the glory and trials of Cathay; get to know the business and management, directors and scriptwriters, technical experts and music composers who worked behind the scenes to pave the way for the movie brilliance of today.

Read about the birth of the classic and widely popular film Mambo Girl by the versatile literati, Director Evan Yang; uncover the story behind melodramatic novelist Eileen Chang; celebrate the glamour of glitzy stars like Grace Chang, Linda Lin Dai and Peter Chen Ho who took the Hong Kong movie scene by storm and honour other industry veterans and their vital contributions.

The thoughtfully curated exhibition features rare historical artefacts including a letter to fans from Director Yi Sui who directed the first Chinese film produced by Cathay-Keris Studios in postwar Singapore in 1960 – Lion City, which premiered at Cathay’s Odeon Theatre; as well as brochure and booklet of the opening of Cathay Cinema in 1939 and Odeon Theatres in 1953. Visitors can also get a glimpse of the working relationship between Mr. Heah Hock Meng, vice-chairman of Cathay Organisation and MP & GI in Hong Kong through letter exchange. Continue the nostalgic journey to view the existing exhibits in the gallery including the dazzling costumes worn by late actresses, antique cinema chairs, vintage movie posters and other movie memorabilia.

Find The Cathay Gallery at #02-16, The Cathay. Opening Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 11am – 7pm.