A happy event happened in the steelmaking department of East China Iron and Steel No.8 Plant: Lu Zhongkui, the production captain, was promoted to director of the steelmaking department. The workers unanimously supported the decision and were very excited. With the active help of Chen Xiangqun, secretary of the Party Committee, Chen perfected the working system and division of labor of the department and mobilized the enthusiasm of the workers. At this time, the newspaper published Chairman Mao's great call for "increasing production and saving", and the workers in the factory responded enthusiastically, and each group put forward specific measures. After repeated thinking and unremitting research all night, Lu Zhongkui put forward a proposal to transform and expand the existing 15 ton steelmaking furnace into a 20-ton steelmaking furnace, which can produce five or six thousand tons of steel for the country a year. This proposal was immediately supported by Lin Wenbin, a steel worker and a young engineer. The proposal to expand the stove was hotly discussed at the factory management Committee. The chief engineer, Shi Tian, has an outdated concept and opposes starting a new stove. Director Li Yonghua is conservative and complacent about his achievements in the past few years. He believes that the output has increased compared with the liberation, the potential has been exhausted, the steelmaking furnace is old, and the output has reached the "top". He thought it was risky to repair the furnace again, so he agreed with Shi Tian, the chief engineer, and prepared to put it off. Chen disagreed with Director Li's handling of this issue and suggested that it be reported to the superior for approval. Chen was elected as a representative of people's congresses from all walks of life in Shanghai. He brought the workers' opinions to the meeting and said in his speech that the output of his factory will definitely increase by 20% in the fourth quarter. Minister Nie of the Ministry of Industry met with him, agreed to his suggestion and encouraged his innovative spirit. In this way, director Li had to promise to start over with them. With the joint efforts of Master Jiang, Engineer Lin and all the workers, the transformation of the furnace was completed. However, the first furnace of steel had an accident, the smelting time was prolonged and the molten steel overflowed. These facts further encouraged the factory director Li to think that the stove was changed in the wrong way. He gave Lu Zhongkui three days to improve the condition of the stove, otherwise, he must change the stove back to its original state. National construction needs a lot of steel, and failure to complete the plan will affect national construction. Lu Zhongkui was troubled by his high sense of responsibility for his country. However, he did not flinch. He knew it was right to rebuild the stove, but what was the problem? Relying on the workers, he carefully checked and finally found that the gas was too big and the gas problem was solved. Through creative work, the workers not only shortened the smelting time and completed the task on time, but also greatly increased the output. New records are constantly emerging. This is a good starting point! It is a great starting point for the working class to struggle for the industrialization of socialist countries!

"Great Starting Point" Poster credits Director Deputy Director (Assistant) Screenwriter Ai Photography Huang Shaofen Recording Audience Seats Lu Lizhi Set Designer Hu Zhuoyun? Composer: Liyinghai

? Performance: Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

? Conductor: Huang Yijun

? Deputy Production Director: Wu

Actor Comments Zhang Hua Datang Nie Minister Gao Zhengtian Chengmo Fan Lai Cui Wenshun Jiang Shifu Zhou Yueping Wang Xincui Cannon Deng Nan Xiaoqin Cao Duo Gu Qiugen Jiangshan Jackie Chan Lu Mu Shi Mingzhi Xiaojing Zhao Yurong