SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

Hong Kong calling. Ask any true soldier of fortune the word of tan, he'll tell you Hong Kong is your port of call. Little wonder then that author Ernest K. Gann, whose novel The High and the Mighty soared to the peak of the best seller list last year, turned to Hong Kong for the locale of his newest romantic adventure, Soldier of Fortune. The Fox's CinemaScope cameras traveled 7,000 mi across the world to capture the authentic backgrounds and exciting realism of this novel. Here, Clark Gable begins his odyssey to the location sites, accompanied by the veteran producer of From Here to Eternity, Buddy Adler, and director Edward Dmytryk. They departure from Los Angeles International Airport. Arrival at Honolulu, where eager throngs await the star. A joyous ovation is tendered Gable as in few and a hearty welcome by Japan's leading ladies of the screen. The Oriental fans are as demonstrative as our own variety when that Gable smile is in evidence. Everyone in Tokyo with a camera seems to be on hand for the press conference as Clark holds forth to the delight of the local news hounds. Finally, the goal of the journey is reached. Kai Tak Airport on the Kowloon Peninsula, air terminal for Hong Kong. Hong Kong, listening post of the Orient, presents a vivid study in contrast. A unique metropolis resting so uneasily just on the brink of the bamboo curtain. Seething multitudes, banner-like advertisements, and family activities all combine in a colorful picture of Far Eastern fantasy that presents a never-ending panorama of intrigue to the visitor. Queen's Road is as modern as Main Street, but just around the corner age-old traditions still persist. Here a junk is being launched with the same rights that were old centuries ago. Hong Kong is famed for its handsome chests, product of skilled artisans whose training is handed down from father to son. Sensitive hands cover all sides of the sandalwood boxes with delicate carvings of ancient legends. The final touch by young apprentices and it's ready for a market that often pays thousands of dollars for these authentic masterpieces. One of the highlights of Hong Kong is the ascent to Victoria for the cable car, a feat of modern engineering that makes the balance of the journey a delight. Scenes of breathtaking beauty succeed one another through the car window as the strong cables pull a tram around hazardous curves and upgrades that at times measure 45°. that this is a land of contrast. This is Shack City where countless thousands of China's displaced populace have sought refuge. Numbering 800,000 before the war, Hong Kong's population now exceeds 3 million. Seconds to the brave in heart where adventure is yours for the asking. Cinemascope Gans best-selling novel Soldier of Fortune to the screen.