International Screen started publication on October 1955, almost two years earlier than Southern Screen.
The Cathay Organization's was the lead in the race to modernize the Chinese film industry along Hollywood lines (especially the vertical integration of production, distribution, and exhibition). Cathay had started out as one of the largest theater chains in Southeast Asia, then entered into distribution in order to ensure a steady supply of films for its theaters.
In the mid-50s, Cathay ventured into production (including funding the independent productions of Yan Jun and Bai Guang) and initiated an actors training program. In 1956, it formally restructured its various Hong Kong companies into Motion Picture & General Investment, and the first MP&GI film, Golden Lotus (1957) starring Lin Dai, debuted the following Chinese New Year.
In 1957, Run Run Shaw arrived in Hong Kong and bought 46 acres of land in Clearwater Bay for the future Shaw Movie Town, and in March 1958 he officially announced the establishment of Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd.
The battle between Shaws and Cathay had begun. One tactic used by Shaws was the stealing of stars, which can be traced on the covers of both studios' magazines.
Lin Dai, was the cover girl for the premiere issues of both International Screen and Southern Screen. In fact, in the same month (December, 1957) that she appeared on the cover of Southern Screen No. 1, she also graced the cover of International Screen No. 26. Throughout the late 50s, she freelanced for both studios, until she finally settled down at Shaw Brothers in 1961.
The competition between Cathay Organization and Shaw Brothers was good for the audiences for we saw better movies and a whole new list of movie stars started to appear on the screen.
Source : Google.
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