The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. Its film division once distributed Universal Pictures releases in the UK. The company's distinctive opening film sequence of boxer Bombardier Billy Wells striking a gong is widely remembered (and would be parodied at various times, including an episode of Gilligan's Island and Chuck Jones' Bugs Bunny cartoon, "Bunny Hugged").
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The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. Its film division once distributed Universal Pictures releases in the UK. The company's distinctive opening film sequence of boxer Bombardier Billy Wells striking a gong is widely remembered (and would be parodied at various times, including an episode of Gilligan's Island and Chuck Jones' Bugs Bunny cartoon, "Bunny Hugged").
The Rank Organisation was created by J. Arthur Rank in 1937 to consolidate all of his interests in the film industry. A history of these interests prior to 1937 is found under the entry for J. Arthur Rank.
From its inception the Rank Organisation became a major force in British film making, distribution and exhibition. Its trade mark was characterised by its corporate logo of the Gongman.
The company grew quickly. In 1938 the Odeon cinema chain was acquired, followed by the Paramount chain in 1942. After Odeon's creation, it was alleged that it...
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