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| Former type | Public |
|---|---|
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | Rank Group |
| Founded | 1937 |
| Defunct | 1995 |
| Headquarters | London, UK |
| Key people | J. Arthur Rank (Chairman) |
| Industry | Entertainment |
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. Its film division once distributed Universal Pictures releases in the UK. The company's distinctive opening film sequence of boxer Bombardier Billy Wells striking a gong is widely remembered (and would be parodied at various times, including an episode of Gilligan's Island and Chuck Jones' Bugs Bunny cartoon, "Bunny Hugged").
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Origin
The Rank Organisation was created by J. Arthur Rank in 1937 to consolidate all of his interests in the film industry. A history of these interests prior to 1937 is found under the entry for J. Arthur Rank.
Growth
From its inception the Rank Organisation became a major force in British film making, distribution and exhibition. Its trade mark was characterised by its corporate logo of the Gongman.
The company grew quickly. In 1938 the Odeon cinema chain was acquired, followed by the Paramount chain in 1942. After Odeon's creation, it was alleged that it was named after its founder's own ambition: "Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation", but this was just a publicity myth.[citation needed] Odeon's acquisition was followed in 1941 by Gaumont-British Picture Corporation, who also owned Gainsborough Pictures, 251 cinemas, and the Lime Grove Studios which were sold to the BBC in 1949. In the late 1940s, a majority share in Allied Cinemas and Irish Cinemas Ltd. was gained, becoming the largest exhibition circuit in Ireland (a position it maintained until the early 1980s).
In 1939 Denham Film Studios were merged with the facilities at Pinewood and Amalgamated Studios in Borehamwood acquired.
Film making
Eventually the Rank Organisation owned five major film studio complexes, Pinewood Film Studios, Denham Film Studios, Ealing Studios, Lime Grove Studios and Islington Studios. The company also gradually acquired 650 cinemas.
Independent Producers Ltd. employed some of Britain's greatest directors, such as Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes, I Know Where I'm Going!), David Lean (Brief Encounter, Great Expectations), Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat (I See a Dark Stranger, The Happiest Days of Your Life), Ken Annakin (Holiday Camp) and Muriel Box (The Seventh Veil).
The Company of Youth, the Rank Organisation acting school often referred to as "The Charm School" was founded in 1945. It launched several careers including those of Donald Sinden, Dirk Bogarde, Diana Dors and Christopher Lee. Although she was not a member of the school, Petula Clark was under contract to Rank for a period of time and starred in a number of films released by the studio, including London Town (1946), one of the costliest flops in British film history. Also under contract to Rank was the Canadian actor Philip Gilbert.
From 1959 to 1969: the company made over 500 weekly short cinema films in a series entitled Look At Life, each film depicting an area of British life. From 1966 to 1978, the Rank Organization produced and distributed of the Carry On films, after Anglo-Amalgamated announced they did not want any more Carry On titles produced under them.
Diversification
In 1949 a financial crisis forced the Rank Organisation to sell its Lime Grove, and Islington Studios. Beginning that same year, the company bought the Bush Radio manufacturing facility and began to diversify its interests. In the early 1960s Rank took over Murphy Radio to form the Rank Bush Murphy Group, which was eventually sold to Great Universal Stores in 1978.
During the 1950s the British photographer Cornel Lucas set up the Pool Studio at Pinewood Studios where he photographed many of the movie stars of this era of cinema, such as Marlene Dietrich and David Niven. The official website of Cornel Lucas
J. Arthur Rank stepped down as Managing Director of the Rank Organisation in 1952, but remained as Chairman until 1962. Under the management of Sir John Davis the Rank Organisation closed Independent Producers Ltd. and Denham Studios, and consolidated all of its film production at Pinewood Studios. In 1956 Rank began a partnership with the Haloid Corporation to form Rank Xerox. Rank became part of the consortium that bid successfully for the ITV south franchise which becomes Southern Television in 1958.
In the late 1950s, Rank set up Rank Records Ltd. (the record label was named Top Rank) and Jaro Records (a jazz subsidiary). In 1961, Top Rank was taken over by EMI, and in 1962 they replaced it with Stateside Records. Rank Audio Visual was created in 1960, bringing together Rank's acquisitions in multimedia, including Bell and Howell (acquired with Gaumont British in 1941), Andrew Smith Harkness Ltd (1952) and Wharfedale Ltd (1958). Subsequent acquisitions included Strand Electric Holdings (1968) and H.J. Leak & Co. (1969).
Decline
In 1995, The Rank Group acquired all the outstanding shares of The Rank Organisation.
See also
References
- Geoffrey Macnab, J. Arthur Rank and the British Film Industry, London, Routledge (1993), ISBN 0415072727.
- Alan Wood, Mr. Rank, London, Hodder & Stoughton (1951).
External links
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