The Rank Organisation: Difference between revisions
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{{PageCredits|description=Nicholas Aczel, Sean Beard and Eric S.|capture=Eric S., VPJHuk, TVB, Derrick Anderson and LMgamer36|edits=TVB, Blue2000, LMgamer36 and Jesse Coffey|video=Peakpasha, LogicSmash, daktari tubabu, DudeThatLogo, Dan VHS and IdentsandLogos}}{{Infobox company|founded=23 April | {{PageCredits|description=Nicholas Aczel, Sean Beard and Eric S.|capture=Eric S., VPJHuk, TVB, Derrick Anderson and LMgamer36|edits=TVB, Blue2000, LMgamer36 and Jesse Coffey|video=Peakpasha, LogicSmash, daktari tubabu, DudeThatLogo, Dan VHS and IdentsandLogos}}{{Infobox company|founded=23 April 1937 ({{age|1937|4|23}} years ago)|country=United Kingdom|name=The Rank Organisation|founder=J. Arthur Rank|formerly={{unbulleted list | ||
|{{w|General Film Distributors (1937-1944)}} | |{{w|General Film Distributors (1937-1944)}} | ||
|{{w|J. Arthur Rank Enterprise (1944-1973)}} | |{{w|J. Arthur Rank Enterprise (1944-1973)}} | ||
}}|fate=Assets sold to Rank Group. Film assets are now owned by ITV plc.|successors=The Rank Group|defunct=7 February | }}|fate=Assets sold to Rank Group. Film assets are now owned by ITV plc.|successors=The Rank Group|defunct=7 February 1996 ({{age|1996|2|7}} years ago)}} | ||
===Background=== | ===Background=== | ||
'''The Rank Organisation''' was founded in 1937 by producer Joseph Arthur '''Rank''' as "'''[[General Film Distributors]]'''". Rank, as a company, still exists today as '''The Rank Group plc.''', a hotel, resort, and casino operator. The Rank Group acquired all of The Rank Organisation's shares and company in 1995. The Rank film archive is now owned by ITV Studios Global Entertainment, a subsidiary of ITV plc., while the North American rights are held by either [[The Criterion Collection]] or [[Shout! Factory]] (previously, North American rights had been held by [[Embassy Home Entertainment]], [[Paramount Home Entertainment|Paramount Home Video]], and [[Samuel Goldwyn Home Entertainment]]). The films Rank merely distributed have gone to different owners. | '''The Rank Organisation''' was founded in 1937 by producer Joseph Arthur '''Rank''' as "'''[[General Film Distributors]]'''". Rank, as a company, still exists today as '''The Rank Group plc.''', a hotel, resort, and casino operator. The Rank Group acquired all of The Rank Organisation's shares and company in 1995. The Rank film archive is now owned by ITV Studios Global Entertainment, a subsidiary of ITV plc., while the North American rights are held by either [[The Criterion Collection]] or [[Shout! Factory]] (previously, North American rights had been held by [[Embassy Home Entertainment]], [[Paramount Home Entertainment|Paramount Home Video]], and [[Samuel Goldwyn Home Entertainment]]). The films Rank merely distributed have gone to different owners. | ||
===Gongman (November | ===Gongman (22 November 1944-21 November 1997)=== | ||
<gallery mode="packed" heights="160"> | <gallery mode="packed" heights="160"> | ||
GW200H132.jpg|Original variant | GW200H132.jpg|Original variant | ||
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{{YouTube|id=KLnyUZbJmOk|id2=Uie4YqrhNHQ|id3=rPHhQtyZGpA|id4=kwyRmRY7Eok|id5=KdZmXSChzQA|id6=oMB_YRLCWHY|id7=32oEs0FYguc|id8=B5hP15g4EI0|id9=iYP_P4WLXZk|id10=mPhagP-BFIo|id11=G8l2DZvbCG8|id12=QrdWjHc5plY}} | {{YouTube|id=KLnyUZbJmOk|id2=Uie4YqrhNHQ|id3=rPHhQtyZGpA|id4=kwyRmRY7Eok|id5=KdZmXSChzQA|id6=oMB_YRLCWHY|id7=32oEs0FYguc|id8=B5hP15g4EI0|id9=iYP_P4WLXZk|id10=mPhagP-BFIo|id11=G8l2DZvbCG8|id12=QrdWjHc5plY}} | ||
'''Logo:''' On a backdrop of draped red curtains, we see a shirtless man (Billy Wells from 1944 to 1957, and Ken Richmond afterwards), hitting a large gong twice with his mallet. As this happens, we zoom up to the gong, and the words | '''Logo:''' On a backdrop of draped {{color|red}} curtains, we see a shirtless man (Billy Wells from 1944 to 1957, and Ken Richmond afterwards), hitting a large gong twice with his mallet. As this happens, we zoom up to the gong, and the words "J. ARTHUR RANK PRESENTS" in a long bold font fade in on the gong. | ||
'''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: | ||
* <u>1944-1955</u>: | * <u>1944-1955</u>: "J. ARTHUR RANK PRESENTS". This one has been nicknamed the "golden age version". | ||
* <u>1955-1997</u>: "{{Font|Times New Roman|THE J. ARTHUR RANK ORGANISATION presents}}" or simply "{{Font|Times New Roman|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. | * <u>1955-1997</u>: "{{Font|Times New Roman|THE J. ARTHUR RANK ORGANISATION presents}}" or simply "{{Font|Times New Roman|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. | ||
* On ''<u>Hamlet</u>'' the text reads "A J. ARTHUR RANK ENTERPRISE" instead. | * On ''<u>Hamlet</u>'' the text reads "A J. ARTHUR RANK ENTERPRISE" instead. | ||
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* Sometimes, the text appears early either <u>before or after the first gong</u>. | * Sometimes, the text appears early either <u>before or after the first gong</u>. | ||
'''Technique:''' Mainly live action, but on the golden age version, the words appear via a | '''Technique:''' Mainly live action, but on the golden age version, the words appear via a "wipe" effect. | ||
'''Music/Sounds:''' The two "hits" of the gong. | '''Music/Sounds:''' The two "hits" of the gong. | ||
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* Sometimes, the <u>movie's opening theme</u> plays over the logo without the gong sounds. | * Sometimes, the <u>movie's opening theme</u> plays over the logo without the gong sounds. | ||
'''Availability:''' | '''Availability:''' | ||
* When The Rank Organisation's film library was sold to [[Carlton Television]] in 1997, Carlton originally deleted the logo from many of its prints and replacing it with the 1999 [[Carlton International]] logo as they had a nasty habit of removing/plastering logos. However, after Carlton merged with the [[Granada Media Group]] to form ITV plc, this has since become less common with ITV's restoration and remastering of the Rank film archive keeping the logos intact. | * When The Rank Organisation's film library was sold to [[Carlton Television]] in 1997, Carlton originally deleted the logo from many of its prints and replacing it with the 1999 [[Carlton International]] logo as they had a nasty habit of removing/plastering logos. However, after Carlton merged with the [[Granada Media Group]] to form ITV plc, this has since become less common with ITV's restoration and remastering of the Rank film archive keeping the logos intact. | ||
** Films that have not yet been restored by ITV, such as ''The Naked Truth'' (1957) and ''The Plank'' (1967), still have the 1999 [[Carlton International]] logo. | ** Films that have not yet been restored by ITV, such as ''The Naked Truth'' (1957) and ''The Plank'' (1967), still have the 1999 [[Carlton International]] logo. | ||
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* Though Rank distributed ''Reservoir Dogs'' in the UK, this did not appear at all on the film. | * Though Rank distributed ''Reservoir Dogs'' in the UK, this did not appear at all on the film. | ||
* This also appears on British VHS prints of ''Wes Craven's New Nightmare'', preceding the [[New Line Cinema]] logo. | * This also appears on British VHS prints of ''Wes Craven's New Nightmare'', preceding the [[New Line Cinema]] logo. | ||
* The German variant was spotted on a May | * The German variant was spotted on a 22 May 1982 [[ARD]] airing of ''Fähre nach Hongkong (Ferry to Hong Kong).'' | ||
'''Legacy:''' This is one of the most famous British logos of all time. | '''Legacy:''' This is one of the most famous British logos of all time. | ||