The Golden Horse Awards Ceremony, equivalent of the Motion Picture Awards (Oscar) ceremony in Hollywood, was initiated in the Republic of China in 1961. But because of red tape and an overemphasis on subject matter rather than artistic standards, movie makers and cinema audiences paid little attention to the awards, which were not held in great esteem.
Faced with this situation, director-general of the Government Information Office, Dr. James C. Y. Soong, and other GIO officials in charge of the movie industry, decided that the emphasis on form would be replaced by a policy of upgrading the local film industry to international standards. It was hoped that such a policy would improve the artistic content of movies and add a badly needed aura of authority to the awards.
This changed outlook resulted in an 180-degree turn in the history of the awards. Outstanding and internationally acclaimed movie and television stars were invited as special guests to present the awards and make speeches. Two years ago, Elizabeth Taylor and James Mason were special guests. The number of entries doubled compared with the year before. New categories were opened up which included awards for best acting, costume design, original musical score, best musical adaptation and others. Today, as millions of television viewers tune in for a live broadcast of the ceremony, the awards have become one of the most hotly contested and most coveted prizes in the motion picture industry.
Because the traditional venue, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei was not available, the awards ceremony was moved to Kaohsiung this year. The response from the citizens of the southern port city was overwhelming. When it was announced that the night before the event a limited number of tickets would be placed on sale, people immediately began to wait in line. Even the last person to obtain a ticket said he had been waiting since 3 a.m.
Foreign guests were put up at the luxury Ambassador Hotel at the expense of the government. On the afternoon of the awards ceremony, a parade of floats passed through the streets, in which foreign guests were invited to participate. Thousands of fans lined both sides of the street craning their necks to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars, in some places obstructing the progress of the parade. As a result, a journey which normally lasts 20 minutes took a full two hours to complete, and the awards were held up half an hour.
At the awards ceremony, Dr. Soong exhorted those in the film industry to strive harder, to be open to constructive criticism, and to emphasize the artistic aspect of their work. When Vice-President Hsieh Tung-min made a cameo appearance on stage, he received a prolonged standing ovation.
Foreign representative groups included guests from Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, as well as individual guests from other countries. Some awards were presented to winners by American film star Deborah Roffin. Alain Delon, the suave and handsome French actor who donned his long, silk scarf--his trademark--for the occasion, presented the award for best supporting actress; George Cukor, renowned Hollywood director, for best director; Charles Bronson, for best female role; and Chris Mitchum for best original script. Companies from Hong Kong and Taiwan also participated in the awards presentation ceremonies.
Live performances during the ceremony added sparkle and provided a glimpse into art forms not normally open to public scrutiny and enjoyment. From New York, four Broadway stars, John Manzi, Darcy Dean, Mack Avery, and Amy Suzanne, staged a performance from the stage play Cabaret. Performances by local artists from various schools, universities and cultural groups added to the entertainment. There was also a martial arts demonstration put on by experts which drew "oohs" and "aahs" from thousands of kung fu fans.
Great efforts were made by officials of the Awards Academy to ensure that the decisions of judges would not be influenced by outside pressure-groups, and that impartiality and objectivity would be maintained throughout. Selections for each category were made after closed-door discussions, and announcements were not made in advance.
Special awards were presented for films with a particular social message or significance. The well known local production, Coldest Winter in Peking was honored, as well as was If I Were for Real, a movie originally written and produced by three young mainland Chinese artists. This movie satirized conditions and political oppression on the China mainland. The script and movie were censored and confiscated by the mainland authorities, and the writers were severely censured for their actions. In Taiwan, the movie won an award for the best-adapted script.
Lasting for three hours, and including 18 different award groups, the show left a lasting impression on all involved with the production as well as foreign and local guests and stars. The ceremony made headlines in many of Taiwan's newspapers the following day, and was the topic of conversation among all movie fans. Despite the success of the event, discussions on improving next year's ceremony started immediately. If was felt that changes should be made in many areas and that local film makers should learn from their foreign counterparts, so that movie industry standards in the Republic of China can continue to rise.
[Picture Caption]
3.4. Director-general of the Government Information Office, Dr. James. C. Y. Soong and Kao-hsiung Mayor Yang Jin-tsung address the awards ceremony. 1. The Golden horse awards have become the most coveted and respected prizes in the motion picture industry. 2. Students from the Armed Forces Military Academy sing in chorus during the awards ceremony.
1. Chang Ai-jia won the award for best actress, presented by American actress Jill Ireland, wife of Charles Bronson. 2. Renowned Hollywood director George Cukor presents the award for best director to Hsu Ke. 3. Wang Lai-won receives the award for best supporting actress. 4. Wang Jue receives the award for best supporting actor for his performance in The Coldest Winter in Peking. 5. Tan Yung-lin receives the award for best actor for his performance in If I Were for Real.
1. Vice President Shieh Tung-min (second from right) made a special appearance. 2. The cartoon Lao Fu-tze, adapted from the comic strip of the same name, took the award for best cartoon. 3. Lin Chin-hsiung, an aborigine from Taitung in eastern Taiwan receives the award for best original musical score. 4. Shao Yi-fu, head of a local movie company makes an appearance. 5. Best child actor, Cheng chuan-wen. 6. This year's awards included a category for best documentary film.
1. Hollywood director George Cukor receives a presentation from Dr. James C. Y. Soong for his outstanding contributions to the movie industry. 2. James Mason, who appeared at the ceremony two years ago, remarked on the prosperity of Taiwan and the general kindness of the people. 3. French actor Alain Delon receives a trophy for on his return visit this year being an outstanding actor of the year. 4.5.6. Deborah Roffin, Charles Bronson, Chris Mitchum. 7.8. Eva Gabor and John Ritter, who appeared at the awards ceremony two years ago and last year, respectively. 9. This year's winners come on stage to take a bow at the end of the ceremony.
1. Students from the Dance Department of the University of Chinese Culture. 2. You Min, famous Taiwan actress, and General-manager of a local movie company. 3. A piece from Chinese Opera is performed. 4. Performance by a Broadway dance troupe. 5. Thousands of fans turn out for the parade of floats. 6. Traditional martial arts performance. 7. The three nominees for best actress.
Students from the Armed Forces Military Academy sing in chorus during the awards ceremony.
Director-general of the Government Information Office, Dr. James. C. Y. Soong and Kao-hsiung Mayor Yang Jin-tsung address the awards ceremony.
Director-general of the Government Information Office, Dr. James. C. Y. Soong and Kao-hsiung Mayor Yang Jin-tsung address the awards ceremony.
Chang Ai-jia won the award for best actress, presented by American actress Jill Ireland, wife of Charles Bronson.
Renowned Hollywood director George Cukor presents the award for best director to Hsu Ke.
Wang Lai-won receives the award for best supporting actress.
Wang Jue receives the award for best supporting actor for his performance in The Coldest Winter in Peking.
Tan Yung-lin receives the award for best actor for his performance in If I Were for Real.
Vice President Shieh Tung-min （second from right） made a special appearance.
The cartoon Lao Fu-tze, adapted from the comic strip of the same name, took the award for best cartoon.
Lin Chin-hsiung, an aborigine from Taitung in eastern Taiwan receives the award for best original musical score.
Shao Yi-fu, head of a local movie company makes an appearance.
Best child actor, Cheng chuan-wen.
This year's awards included a category for best documentary film.
Hollywood director George Cukor receives a presentation from Dr. James C. Y. Soong for his outstanding contributions to the movie industry.
James Mason, who appeared at the ceremony two years ago, remarked on the prosperity of Taiwan and the general kindness of the people.
French actor Alain Delon receives a trophy for on his return visit this year being an outstanding actor of the year.
Deborah Roffin, Charles Bronson, Chris Mitchum.
Deborah Roffin, Charles Bronson, Chris Mitchum.
Deborah Roffin, Charles Bronson, Chris Mitchum.
Eva Gabor and John Ritter, who appeared at the awards ceremony two years ago and last year, respectively.
Eva Gabor and John Ritter, who appeared at the awards ceremony two years ago and last year, respectively.
This year's winners come on stage to take a bow at the end of the ceremony.
Students from the Dance Department of the University of Chinese Culture.
You Min, famous Taiwan actress, and General-manager of a local movie company.
A piece from Chinese Opera is performed.
Performance by a Broadway dance troupe.
Thousands of fans turn out for the parade of floats.
Traditional martial arts performance.
The three nominees for best actress.
