CHINA: FILM 'HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE' MAKES ITS CHINA DEBUT

Record ID: 634100

  • Title: CHINA: FILM 'HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE' MAKES ITS CHINA DEBUT
  • Date: 27th January 2002
  • Summary: CHILDREN WATCHING MOVIE SCU GIRL PUTTING FINGERS IN HER EARS
  • Embargoed: 11th February 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEIJING AND SHANGHAI, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVA5612CL7LI3DKNPGKWXZJO2PKB
  • Story Text: Harry Potter is casting his magic over millions of Chinese children as the film "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" makes its China debut.
    It's already charmed children in Europe and the United States - now, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

    (known as "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in Europe) is set to cast a spell over its biggest potential market yet - China.
    The film premiered in Beijing on Sunday (January 27) and seems likely to repeat its world-wide success, despite the proliferation of pirate copies of the film already circulating in China.
    In the United States alone, the Harry Potter movie has raked in more than 300 million U.S. dollars.
    Sunday's (January 27) premiere was a treat for a special group of people - orphans and children from poor families.
    The Potter books, about an orphaned boy who finds out he is a wizard, have sold more than 100 million copies world-wide, topping adult best-seller lists as well.
    In China alone, the books have sold more than three million copies.
    At Sunday's premiere, it was clear that the Harry Potter magic was already at work as children - donning spectacles similar to their hero - took part in a special drawing contest.
    The verdict on the movie? Most of the children appeared thrilled with the film version.
    The movie has been dubbed into Mandarin with a few subtle changes to the names of the main characters - Harry Potter becoming Ha-li Bor-ter.
    Child actors were drafted in to make Harry Potter understandable to millions of Chinese in a process that took two weeks to complete.
    It's not clear yet whether the movie will prove as big a hit at the box office in China as in other countries, but one thing is clear - Harry Potter in Mandarin appears every bit as alluring as in his native English.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register