CHENGDU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A movie adapted from "Red Star Over China," a 1937 book written by American journalist Edgar Snow about the Chinese revolution, was screened in cinemas across China starting Thursday.

The movie named after the book tells people about the revolutionary cause of the Communist Party of China when it was still obscure to many Westerners 83 years ago.

The movie, starring actors Li Xuejian, Li Youbin, and actress Jiang Wenli, held its premiere Wednesday in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Wang Jixing, director of the movie, said he had been wanting to adapt the book into a film ever since he became a director in 1987.

In the book "Red Star Over China," Snow included extensive interviews with leaders of Chinese revolution including Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, as well as rich descriptions of the Long March.