J. Arthur Rank

Joseph Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank (December 23 1888 – March 29 1972) was a British industrialist and film producer, and founder of the Rank Organisation, now known as The Rank Group Plc.

Religious challenge

J. Arthur Rank was a devout member of the Methodist Church and in his middle age he taught Sunday School to which he began to show religious films. This practice expanded to other churches and schools and it led to his formation of the Religious Film Society to which he then distributed films that he had also made. His first production was called Mastership.

Related Topics:
Methodist Church - Sunday School - Religious film - Film

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When the Methodist Times newspaper began to complain about the negative influence that British and American films shown in Britain were having on family life, their editorial was answered by the London Evening News who suggested that instead of complaining, the Methodist Church should provide a solution. Rank took up the challenge and via an introduction by a young film producer named John Corefield, he discussed both the problem and a solution with Lady Annie Henrietta Yule of Bricket Wood. The net result of these meetings was the formation of the British National Films Company.

Related Topics:
British - American - Family life - Editorial - London - Evening News - Lady Annie Henrietta Yule - Bricket Wood - British National Films Company

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The first commercial production by this company was Turn of the Tide, a movie based upon a recently published 1932 novel by Leo Walmsley called Three Fevers. Having created their movie, British National then had to get it distributed and exhibited, but this proved to be more difficult than making the movie itself. Some commercial screens began showing Turn of the Tide as a second feature, but this was not enough exposure for the company to make a profit.

Related Topics:
Turn of the Tide - 1932 - Leo Walmsley

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~