Person    | Male  Born 22/12/1888  Died 29/3/1972

J. Arthur Rank

Categories: Cinema, Industry

Flour miller and film-maker. Born Joseph Arthur Rank at Chestnut Villas, Holderness Road, Drypool, Kingston upon Hull. He worked for many years in his (very wealthy) father's flour milling business. During WW1he was responsible for a fleet of ambulances on the Western Front.

A devout Methodist, in 1928 he partially funded the adaptation of Lambeth Chapel for use as a mission hall and cinema. In 1933 he founded the Religious Film Society in order to produce religious films suitable for children. In 1937 he formed the Rank Organisation producing classic films including 'The Red Shoes', 'Hamlet' and 'Black Narcissus'.  He would probably have been horrified to know that his name was to become rhyming slang for a less than holy activity. Died at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
J. Arthur Rank

Commemorated ati

J. Arthur Rank

J. Arthur Rank, 1888 - 1972, industrialist and film producer worked here. Eng...

Read More

Other Subjects

Barbara Everest

Barbara Everest

Film actor. Born in Southfields, London.  Her career spanned over fifty years. Played Elizabeth the servant in Gaslight (1944). Her day of birth is given as 19 or 9, depending on source.

Person, Cinema, Theatre

1 memorial
Peter Greenaway

Peter Greenaway

Film director and screenwriter. Born in Newport, Monmouthshire. He trained as a muralist before turning to films. His best known works include 'The Draughtsman's Contract' and 'The Cook, the Thief,...

Person, Cinema, Wales

1 memorial
Charles Rider Noble

Charles Rider Noble

Theatre manager and film cameraman. Born in Roydon, Essex. Details of his life are sketchy, but he is supposed to have managed a theatre in Northampton before taking over the newly built Brixton Th...

Person, Cinema, Theatre

1 memorial
Sir John Gielgud

Sir John Gielgud

Actor. Born 7 Gledhow Gardens, South Kensington as Arthur John Gielgud, great nephew to Ellen Terry. The name indicates his Lithuanian descent. A great Shakespearean actor, he is possibly best know...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Theatre

4 memorials
David Lodge

David Lodge

Born Rochester, Kent, Started in show-biz as a clown.  First credited film role was in 1955 Cockleshell Heroes.  Appeared in many films and TV series.  Friend of Peter Sellers and other Goons.  Die...

Person, Cinema

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Josiah Gunton

Josiah Gunton

Architect. specialist in non-conformist churches. Born in Cambridgeshire. By 1881 he was living in Hackney. He was articled to Gordon and Lowther architects and became a partner in 1885. His son W...

Person, Architecture, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium

The first Wembley Stadium, originally known as the Empire Stadium, was opened 28 March 1923 by King George V, in time for the British Empire Exhibition of 1924. The architects were Sir John Simpson...

Building, Sport / Games

3 memorials