"Crackling~~~~" "Boom boom clang" "Dang dang"
The sounds of firecrackers, drums, and horns echoed together.
A long lion dance troupe performed outside the Starshine Cinema. Crowds gathered to watch, while many reporters snapped photos.
On Saturday, July 29, 1978 — an auspicious day for opening — Starshine Cinema officially began operations, screening films.
Located in Central, this was Starshine's largest cinema, its flagship.
In this era, many cinemas were converted from theaters, sometimes used for other performances when not showing films. For example, the famous Lee Theatre screened movies but also hosted Cantonese opera, stage plays, and concerts.
Starshine Cinema was different. From the start, Lin BaoCheng instructed Zuo XiangQing to learn from American counterparts: the cinema would be dedicated solely to film screenings, with no other functions.
Each cinema was divided into several auditoriums depending on size, each with 150 seats. Even the smallest had four auditoriums — 600 seats total, more than most Hong Kong cinemas.
The flagship in Central was the largest, with ten auditoriums and 1,500 seats — the biggest cinema in Hong Kong.
More seats meant larger space. Being in Central, the cost was immense: over HK$10 million, mainly due to the high price of commercial property.
Lin had Zuo XiangQing purchase the property outright rather than rent. Though costly upfront, it avoided rent troubles and ensured long‑term value, since the real estate itself would appreciate.
That day, ten Starshine cinemas opened. Though not covering all of Hong Kong, they were located in the busiest, most prosperous districts. With their large seating capacity, the ten cinemas already formed a chain capable of screening films.
Since Lin was in Hong Kong, and the first film shown was Starshine Pictures' Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, he naturally attended the premiere.
He went to the flagship cinema in Central.
As manager of the chain, Zuo XiangQing greeted guests outside, while Lin was already inside.
For Starshine's first release, not only all company executives attended, but also partner film companies, plus invited industry bosses, directors, and actors.
Lin was the center of attention, everyone gathering around him.
"Mr. Lin, Sir Run Run Shaw has arrived," Qin Lan reported while Lin was chatting with Brigitte Lin and Guan ZhiLin.
"Looks like Sir Shaw is giving us face," Lin said, raising his brows. He nodded to the two actresses and went out.
"Sir Shaw, welcome!" Lin greeted with a smile, seeing Run Run Shaw speaking with Zuo XiangQing.
"Mr. Lin!" Shaw replied, shaking hands.
"And this lady is…?" Lin asked, feigning ignorance though he knew.
Shaw introduced her: Fang YiHua, once a famous actress two decades earlier, now his companion, though not legally his wife.
"Sir Shaw, please come inside," Lin said, greeting Fang briefly. He didn't expect to deal with her much, so he focused on Shaw.
They entered the cinema.
Starshine's layout differed from traditional Hong Kong cinemas. Auditoriums were deeper inside and upstairs. The outer area was for waiting, with ticket counters, seating, and even arcade machines for guests to pass the time.
Looking around, Shaw remarked:
"Mr. Lin, your cinema is unlike others in Hong Kong. It's spacious. This one alone must have cost a fortune."
"Counting the property purchase, over HK$10 million," Lin admitted openly. "I modeled it on American cinemas — multiple auditoriums, each with 150 seats, so even those in the back can see clearly."
"HK$10 million — enough to buy several cinemas in Hong Kong," Shaw said, astonished. Shaw Brothers' entire chain was worth HK$50–60 million, boosted by rising land values. Yet one Starshine cinema equaled a fifth of that.
"Ten cinemas opened today. Surely not all cost over HK$10 million?" Fang YiHua asked, surprised. Even knowing Lin was wealthy, she hadn't expected such spending — over HK$100 million for a chain.
"Not that much," Lin waved. "This is the flagship, largest and in Central, so the cost was highest. Other cinemas cost far less — HK$2–5 million each."
"Even so, you've spent heavily," Shaw said, then asked:
"Mr. Lin, have you considered when you'll recoup costs? Or do you simply believe Hong Kong's film industry will grow, so you invest boldly?"
"You could say that," Lin nodded. "I believe the market's total box office will rise year by year."
"Then your view is opposite mine," Shaw said, shaking his head. "In the long run, I don't believe in Hong Kong cinema's future."
That was why Shaw Brothers had reduced film production, and Shaw himself sought to control TVB instead.
Lin wasn't surprised. In his past life, Shaw had done exactly that. By the 1980s–90s, Shaw Brothers had vanished from cinema, while TVB thrived under his leadership.
Lin knew Hong Kong cinema was entering its golden age. But Shaw Brothers' films were outdated, unable to keep up. Persisting would only lose money. Letting go was the right choice.