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The Rank Organisation
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The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment conglomerate founded by industrialist J. Arthur Rank in 1937. It quickly became the largest and most vertically integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities. It also diversified into the manufacture of radios, TVs and photocopiers (as one of the owners of Rank Xerox). The company name lasted until 1996 when the name and some of the remaining assets were absorbed into the newly structured the Rank Group Plc and in recent years asset stripping and streamlining of the business has left it a shadow of its former self, with all their remaining operating interests now in gaming.
The company logo, the Gongman, first used in 1935 by the group's distribution company General Film Distributors and seen in the opening titles of the films, became an iconic film emblem.
Best films
(1994)
(1982)
(1961)
(1963)
(1948)
(1964)Filmography of The Rank Organisation (232 films)
Production
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8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997)
, 1h31Directed by Tom Schulman
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Crime
Themes Mafia films, Théâtre, Films based on plays, Gangster films
Actors Joe Pesci, Andy Comeau, Kristy Swanson, George Hamilton, Dyan Cannon, David Spade
Tommy Spinelli (Joe Pesci) is a wiseguy hired by a pair of dimwitted hit men to transport a duffel bag full of severed heads across the United States to a crime boss (as proof of the deaths). While on a commercial flight, his bag is accidentally switched with that of Charlie Pritchett (Andy Comeau), a friendly, talkative, young American tourist who is going to Mexico to see his girlfriend Laurie (Kristy Swanson) and her parents (George Hamilton and Dyan Cannon).
Best Men (1997)
, 1h30Directed by Tamra Davis
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Romance
Themes Heist films
Actors Sean Patrick Flanery, Dean Cain, Luke Wilson, Andrew Roane Dick, Fred Ward, Mitchell Whitfield
Jesse Reilly was released from prison and he is to be married to Hope. Shortly before the wedding he is involved in a bank robbery with his friends Buzz Thomas, Teddy Pollack and Billy Phillips. It escalates to a hostage crisis, and the FBI is called. In an exchange of fire, a few men are shot. Hope and Jesse are then rescued by John G. Coleman in a helicopter.
The Stupids (1996)
, 1h34Directed by John Landis
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Adventure
Themes Children's films
Actors Tom Arnold, Jessica Lundy, Bug Hall, Alex McKenna, Scott Kraft, Mark Metcalf
Joan and Stanley Stupid are convinced they are victims of a conspiracy that steals their garbage every week and in an attempt to uncover this, Stanley follows the garbage truck to the city dump where he stumbles across Lieutenant Neidermeyer who is selling contraband weaponry to a group of terrorists. Neidermeyer believes Stanley to be a secret agent who has uncovered their operation and orders him to be assassinated, and after several attempts on his life result in humorous dispatching of his would be assassins, Stanley narrowly escapes a carbomb and is presumed dead by Neidermeyer.
To Die For (1995)
, 1h46Directed by Gus Van Sant
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Fantasy, Crime
Themes Assassinat, Medical-themed films, Films about television, Films about psychiatry
Actors Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon, Alison Folland, Casey Affleck, Wayne Knight
Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman) dreams of being a world-famous news anchor. To that end, she marries Larry Maretto (Matt Dillon), because she believes his family business will keep her financially comfortable, and starts attempting to climb the network news ladder, beginning as a weather girl at a local cable station, WWEN.
Just Like a Woman (1992)
, 1h45Directed by Christopher Monger
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Comedy
Themes Films about sexuality, LGBT-related films, Transgender in film, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film
Actors Julie Walters, Adrian Pasdar, Paul Freeman, Susan Wooldridge, Gordon Kennedy, Togo Igawa
Gerald Tilson, a finance executive, finds himself thrown out by his wife when she discovers women's underwear in their flat; in fact the clothes belong to him. He takes lodgings with Monica, who gradually discovers his alter ego, "Geraldine". A subplot deals with his boss' plan to defraud their Japanese clients, and how the couple thwart it.
King of New York (1990)
, 1h46Directed by Abel Ferrara
Origin Italie
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Adventure, Crime
Themes Mafia films, Gangster films
Actors Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Victor Argo, Janet Julian
Frank White, a drug lord, is riding into New York in a limousine after being released from Sing Sing. Emilio El Zapa, a Colombian drug dealer, is shot to death, and the killers leave a newspaper headline announcing Frank's release. El Zapa's partner, King Tito, is in a hotel room with Jimmy Jump and Test Tube, who are negotiating the purchase of cocaine. Jimmy and Test Tube shoot Tito and his bodyguards and steal the cocaine.
The Comfort of Strangers (1990)
, 1h47Directed by Paul Schrader
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Romance
Actors Natasha Richardson, Christopher Walken, Rupert Everett, Helen Mirren
It is a movie about relationships between two distinct and very different couples. Colin (Rupert Everett) and Mary (Natasha Richardson) are a British couple vacationing in Venice for the second time. They are not married, but Mary has two children, who have been left at home with her mother. We are shown glimpses of a tall man dressed in white, who seems to be observing them from afar. Late one night, they become lost as they search for a restaurant. As they wander around, they meet Robert (Christopher Walken), the British-Italian owner of a local bar. He is the very elegant-looking man in all white. Over several bottles of wine, he tells them stories about his sadistic father who was an Italian diplomat. Robert also talks of the cruel tricks his younger sisters played upon him.
Dealers (1989)
, 1h27Directed by Colin Bucksey
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama
Actors Paul McGann, Rebecca De Mornay, Derrick O'Connor, John Castle, Paul Guilfoyle, Adrian Dunbar
Based at the London branch of Whitney Paine, a fictional American investment bank; possibly a play on the names of Paine Webber and Dean Witter.
The Lady Vanishes (1979)
, 1h35Directed by Anthony Page
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Thriller, Comedy, Action, Spy, Crime, Romance
Themes Spy films, Transport films, Rail transport films, Film se déroulant dans un train
Actors Elliott Gould, Cybill Shepherd, Angela Lansbury, Herbert Lom, Arthur Lowe, Ian Carmichael
In August 1939, a motley group of travellers find themselves in a small hotel in Bavaria, awaiting a delayed train to Switzerland. They include a "much married madcap American heiress", Amanda Metcalf-Midvani-Von Hoffsteader-Kelly, and Robert Condon, a wise-cracking American photographer.
Soldier of Orange (1977)
, 2h29Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Origin Pays-bas
Genres Drama, War, Thriller, Historical
Themes Political films
Actors Rutger Hauer, Jeroen Krabbé, Derek de Lint, Edward Fox, Susan Penhaligon, Lex van Delden
The film is about a group of students from Leiden, the Netherlands, amongst them Erik Lanshof (Rutger Hauer), Guus LeJeune (Jeroen Krabbé), Jan Weinberg (Huib Rooymans), and Alex (Derek de Lint). Robby Froost (Eddy Habbema) is a friend of Erik, and Esther (Belinda Meuldijk) is Robby's girlfriend. Each of them follow a different path and therefore have a different role in World War II, either as a collaborator or in the resistance. Part of the story is set in London, where Queen Wilhelmina (Andrea Domburg) has residence. The students Erik and Guus fight alongside Colonel Rafelli (Edward Fox) and soldier Susan (Susan Penhaligon) of the allied forces in London.
Carry On England (1976)
, 1h29Directed by Gerald Thomas
Origin United-kingdom
Genres War, Comedy
Themes Films about sexuality, Erotic films, Political films
Actors Kenneth Connor, Windsor Davies, Patrick Mower, Judy Geeson, Jack Douglas, Joan Sims
Captain S Melly (Kenneth Connor) is put in charge of an experimental mixed-battery during the darkest days of the Second World War. It's a relief for Captain Bull (David Lodge) to greet his relief but Melly isn't prepared for the ball-squeezing Sergeant Major "Tiger" Bloomer (Windsor Davies) and the randy antics of Bombardier Ready (Jack Douglas), Sergeant Tilly Willing (Judy Geeson) and Sergeant Len Able (Patrick Mower). Forever feigning illness or hiding in their underground "snoggery", the troops are happily getting to grips with each other rather than the enemy. Most prominent of the females is Private Alice Easy (Diane Langton) who tries to charm her new commanding officer but only succeeds in propelling her top button into his system! Private Jennifer Ffoukes-Sharpe (Joan Sims) pines for "Tiger" while everybody – including little Gunner Shorthouse (Melvyn Hayes) – gets a piece of the action. Even after a tip-off to the medical officer, Major Butcher (Julian Holloway) segregation and rigorous training, the unit is still a shower. However, an inspection by the cowardly Brigadier (Peter Jones) and Major Carstairs (Peter Butterworth) is interrupted by an airborne attack and Melly's troop finally prove they are real British bulldogs.
Deadly Strangers (1975)
, 1h28Directed by Sidney Hayers
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Thriller
Actors Hayley Mills, Simon Ward, Sterling Hayden, Peter Jeffrey
A lunatic is on the loose as a salesman, Steven Slade (Simon Ward) picks up a young lady, Belle Adams, (Hayley Mills) in a blue Austin Maxi car after she is nearly raped by a lorry driver.
The Belstone Fox (1973)
, 1h28Directed by James Hill (réalisateur britannique)
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama
Themes Films about animals, Films about foxes, Children's films
Actors Eric Porter, Bill Travers, Dennis Waterman, Heather Wright, Jeremy Kemp, Rachel Roberts
The Belstone Fox is the nickname given to Tag, a fox cub rescued from the woods and adopted by huntsman Asher. The young fox is reared in captivity with a litter of hound puppies, including Merlin, with whom Tag becomes especially friendly. Asher is devoted to Tag, but when Tag leads the hunt into the path of a train and many hounds are killed, the result is tragic.
Antony and Cleopatra (1972)
, 2h18Directed by Charlton Heston
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Historical
Themes Films set in Africa, Politique, Théâtre, Political films, Films based on plays, Films based on works by William Shakespeare, Films about royalty
Actors Charlton Heston, Hildegarde Neil, Eric Porter, John Castle, Fernando Rey, Douglas Wilmer
Antoine et Cléopâtre (1972) est une adaptation cinématographique de Rank Organisation de la pièce du même nom de William Shakespeare. Elle a été réalisée par Charlton Heston et produite par Peter Snell selon un scénario de Federico De Urrutia et de Charlton Heston.
Twins of Evil (1971)
, 1h27Directed by John Hough
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Horror
Themes Films about magic and magicians, Films about sexuality, Erotic films, LGBT-related films, Vampires in film, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film, Lesbian-related films
Actors Peter Cushing, Dennis Price, David Warbeck, Kathleen Byron, Damien Thomas, Katya Wyeth
Maria and Frieda, recently orphaned identical twin teenage girls, move from Venice to Karnstein in Central Europe to live with their uncle Gustav Weil. Weil is a stern puritan and leader of the fanatical witch-hunting 'Brotherhood'. Both twins resent their uncle's sternness and one of them, Frieda, looks for a way to escape. Resenting her uncle, she becomes fascinated by the local Count Karnstein, who has the reputation of being "a wicked man".