Rank's Last Film?

[Moor Larkin]

Watching what I assumed to be an American movie from 1997, Lawn Dogs (1997) on TV last night, I was startled when the Gong Man introduced the movie..............







Consulting imdb it appears to have been the final film made by whatever there was that remained of the once "British Hollywood" of J.Arthur Rank:

Rank Organisation, The [gb]

[orpheum]

According to IMD the last film was "Mr Children"1996

[Film Man]

I always thought it was Nick Roeg's 'Bad Timing' 1976...but 'well found' you two, what do I know?

Film Man.

[Wolfgang]

Lawn Dogs is affecting little film. One of life's greatest mysteries is where did all that talent Mischa Barton displayed in it disappear to??

[Bunnyboy]

Just noticed the name on the share certificate, 'Percy Partridge' - great name!

[darrenburnfan]

As I remember it, the wording over the gong title gradually changed in the 1970's on new films from The Rank Organisation presents to Rank Film Distributors presents. Almost as though there was no "Organisation" any more.



Of course, on old films of the 1950's and 1960's, the old wording still applies and even further back, say to 1952, the wording was The J. Arthur Rank Organisation presents.

[TurboZed]

So...where did they go wrong? They used to be such a prolific producer of films, and they just seemed to peter out later......

[Steve Crook]

name='TurboZed']So...where did they go wrong? They used to be such a prolific producer of films, and they just seemed to peter out later......

Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) and some similar ventures and then the general decline in cinema going when they'd just invested in some big studios here and some joint ventures in the States.



The accountants took over. J. Arthur Rank stood down in 1952. They tried to get into TV. They were saved (somewhat) by hooking up with Xerox and sold copiers throughout Europe. That and similar ventures kept the studios going for a while longer. Over the years they've got into just about every venture going, bingo, holiday camps, casinos, and many others





They still exist as a company, mainly as a gaming business



Steve

[theuofc]

name='Steve Crook']Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) and some similar ventures and then the general decline in cinema going when they'd just invested in some big studios here and some joint ventures in the States.



The accountants took over. J. Arthur Rank stood down in 1952. They tried to get into TV. They were saved (somewhat) by hooking up with Xerox and sold copiers throughout Europe. That and similar ventures kept the studios going for a while longer. Over the years they've got into just about every venture going, bingo, holiday camps, casinos, and many others





They still exist as a company, mainly as a gaming business



Steve

Steve,



Thanks for the fascinating summary of Rank's decline. I'm glad that Michael Grade et al bought Pinewood and that it and Shepperton still exist along with all the memories of the great films made there.



Barbara

[orpheum]

The point is that once Rank were a blue chip company and a household name now where are they?How can the management of a company get it so disasterously wrong over such a long period of time?

[TurboZed]

name='Steve Crook']Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) and some similar ventures and then the general decline in cinema going when they'd just invested in some big studios here and some joint ventures in the States.



The accountants took over. J. Arthur Rank stood down in 1952. They tried to get into TV. They were saved (somewhat) by hooking up with Xerox and sold copiers throughout Europe. That and similar ventures kept the studios going for a while longer. Over the years they've got into just about every venture going, bingo, holiday camps, casinos, and many others





They still exist as a company, mainly as a gaming business



Steve

Thanks for that Steve, very interesting read

[Steve Crook]

name='orpheum']The point is that once Rank were a blue chip company and a household name now where are they?How can the management of a company get it so disasterously wrong over such a long period of time?

They still are a blue chip company. The Rank Group is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and is one of the companies that makes up the FTSE250 index.



It's just that they don't make films any more



Steve