The Rank Organisation: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
→(November 22, 1944-November 21, 1997)
imported>Michael Kenchington |
imported>Michael Kenchington |
||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
'''Variants:''' The Rank logo has had many renditions over the years. Here are some of them: | '''Variants:''' The Rank logo has had many renditions over the years. Here are some of them: | ||
*1944-1955: “J. ARTHUR RANK PRESENTS”. This one has been nicknamed the “golden age version”. | * 1944-1955: “J. ARTHUR RANK PRESENTS”. This one has been nicknamed the “golden age version”. | ||
*1955-1997: “THE J. ARTHUR RANK ORGANISATION presents” or simply “THE RANK ORGANISATION presents”. The words are seen in a stylized font. In 1957, this logo was re-filmed with Ken Richmond now hitting the gong. | * 1955-1997: “THE J. ARTHUR RANK ORGANISATION presents” or simply “THE RANK ORGANISATION presents”. The words are seen in a stylized font. In 1957, this logo was re-filmed with Ken Richmond now hitting the gong. | ||
*A German variant of the 1955 rendition exists, reading <nowiki>''Die Rank Organisation zeigt'' (roughly translating to ''The Rank Organization presents''</nowiki>). | * A German variant of the 1955 rendition exists, reading <nowiki>''Die Rank Organisation zeigt'' (roughly translating to ''The Rank Organization presents''</nowiki>). | ||
*1960s: An extremely rare still distribution version where there is no gong footage. Instead are the words "Distributed by THE RANK ORGANISATION" on a curtain background. | * 1960s: An extremely rare still distribution version where there is no gong footage. Instead are the words "Distributed by THE RANK ORGANISATION" on a curtain background. | ||
*1970-1982: “THE RANK ORGANISATION” is seen in a boxy font. | * 1970-1982: “THE RANK ORGANISATION” is seen in a boxy font. | ||
*1982-1997: On films distributed by Rank, the words “RANK FILM DISTRIBUTORS present” are seen over the logo in the 1970s logo font. The logo is re-framed to make it appear as if it is now a close-up shot, and the gong man is seen repeatedly striking the gong (the footage is looped here). | * 1982-1997: On films distributed by Rank, the words “RANK FILM DISTRIBUTORS present” are seen over the logo in the 1970s logo font. The logo is re-framed to make it appear as if it is now a close-up shot, and the gong man is seen repeatedly striking the gong (the footage is looped here). | ||
*For films shot in scope format, the logo is zooming out to fit the aspect ratio. | * For films shot in scope format, the logo is zooming out to fit the aspect ratio. | ||
*A black-and-white version can be found on B&W films. | * A black-and-white version can be found on B&W films. | ||
'''FX/SFX:''' Mainly live action, but on the golden age version, the words appear via a “wipe” effect. | '''FX/SFX:''' Mainly live action, but on the golden age version, the words appear via a “wipe” effect. | ||
'''Music/Sounds:''' The two “hits” of the gong. On other early logos, the gong sounds different. Sometimes, it's silent. Sometimes, the movie's opening theme plays over the logo without the gong sounds. | '''Music/Sounds:''' The two “hits” of the gong. | ||
'''Music/Sounds Variants:''' | |||
* On other early logos, the gong sounds different. | |||
* Sometimes, it's silent. | |||
* Sometimes, the movie's opening theme plays over the logo without the gong sounds. | |||
'''Availability:''' Much more common than the General Film Distributors Ltd. logo. | '''Availability:''' Much more common than the General Film Distributors Ltd. logo. | ||
*When The Rank Organisation's film library was sold to [[Carlton Television (UK)|Carlton Television]] in 1997 | * When The Rank Organisation's film library was sold to [[Carlton Television (UK)|Carlton Television]] in 1997, Carlton originally deleted the logo from many of its prints (seeing as they have a nasty habit of removing/plastering logos), but now it is steadily reappearing on recently remastered TV prints and home video releases. Restoration and remastering of the Rank film archive continues under ITV Studios' ownership. | ||
*Among the films containing this logo are well-known classics such as ''Henry V'', ''Hamlet'', ''The Red Shoes'', ''Ladykillers'', and ''The Ipcress File''. | * Among the films containing this logo are well-known classics such as ''Henry V'', ''Hamlet'', ''The Red Shoes'', ''Ladykillers'', and ''The Ipcress File''. | ||
*The 1980s distribution variant can be seen on international prints of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and is retained on the 1999 VHS and 2000 DVD from [[Rhino Home Video]], alongside the 2000 UK VHS and DVD releases of the movie from Maverick Entertainment and the 4:3 print featured on the 2007 [[Metrodome Distribution (UK)|Metrodome Distribution]] DVD (Most later prints of the film, like the widescreen, remaster, do not have this, as they use North American prints of the film, which contains the 1986 [[De Laurentiis Entertainment Group]] logo but retains the gong sounds). It is also seen on recent UK DVDs and TV airings of ''Weekend At Bernie's'', and ''Strictly Ballroom'' all after the current [[Granada Films (UK)|Granada]] logo (the latter also appears on the U.S [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]] Blu-ray). | * The 1980s distribution variant can be seen on international prints of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and is retained on the 1999 VHS and 2000 DVD from [[Rhino Home Video]], alongside the 2000 UK VHS and DVD releases of the movie from Maverick Entertainment and the 4:3 print featured on the 2007 [[Metrodome Distribution (UK)|Metrodome Distribution]] DVD (Most later prints of the film, like the widescreen, remaster, do not have this, as they use North American prints of the film, which contains the 1986 [[De Laurentiis Entertainment Group]] logo but retains the gong sounds). It is also seen on recent UK DVDs and TV airings of ''Weekend At Bernie's'', and ''Strictly Ballroom'' all after the current [[Granada Films (UK)|Granada]] logo (the latter also appears on the U.S [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]] Blu-ray). | ||
*The 1970s variant can be seen on UK TV prints and the Network DVD of ''Short Circuit'' (again, after the [[Granada Films (UK)|Granada]] logo). This logo also recently turned up on an Australian airing of the 1949 film ''Eureka Stockade''. Also appeared on a U.S. streaming print of ''Gleaming the Cube'' on Amazon Prime Video. Though Rank distributed ''Reservoir Dogs'' in the UK, this did not appear at all on the film. The German variant was spotted on a May 22, 1982 [[ARD (Germany)|ARD]] airing of ''Fähre nach Hongkong (Ferry to Hong Kong).'' | * The 1970s variant can be seen on UK TV prints and the Network DVD of ''Short Circuit'' (again, after the [[Granada Films (UK)|Granada]] logo). This logo also recently turned up on an Australian airing of the 1949 film ''Eureka Stockade''. Also appeared on a U.S. streaming print of ''Gleaming the Cube'' on Amazon Prime Video. Though Rank distributed ''Reservoir Dogs'' in the UK, this did not appear at all on the film. The German variant was spotted on a May 22, 1982 [[ARD (Germany)|ARD]] airing of ''Fähre nach Hongkong (Ferry to Hong Kong).'' | ||
'''Editor's Note:''' This is one of the most famous British logos of all time, but it is understandable that some may be bothered by the loud gong sounds and/or the dark environment. | '''Editor's Note:''' This is one of the most famous British logos of all time, but it is understandable that some may be bothered by the loud gong sounds and/or the dark environment. | ||