Rank Organisation

The Rank Organisation, a British entertainment company formed in 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc.

Assets

Eventually the Rank Organisation owned five major film studios which included both Pinewood Film Studios and Denham Film Studios and 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).

Related Topics:
Pinewood Film Studios - Denham Film Studios - Michael Powell - Emeric Pressburger - Black Narcissus - The Red Shoes - I Know Where I'm Going! - David Lean - Brief Encounter - Great Expectations - Frank Launder - Sidney Gilliat - I See A Dark Stranger - The Happiest Days of Your Life - Ken Annakin - Muriel Box

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1945: The Company of Youth, the Rank Organisation acting school often referred to as The Charm School, launched several careers including those of 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, one of the costliest flops in British film history.

Related Topics:
1945 - Diana Dors - Christopher Lee - Petula Clark - London Town

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1959 to 1969, the company made over 500 weekly short cinema films in the Look at Life series, each film depicting an area of British life.

Related Topics:
1959 - 1969

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1966 to 1978, the Rank Organization took over production and distribution of the Carry On films, after Anglo-Amalgamated announced after the death of Nat Cohen, they did not want any more Carry Ons produced under them.

Related Topics:
1966 - 1978 - Carry On films - Anglo-Amalgamated - Nat Cohen

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