Rank Film Distributors of America

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Rank Film Distributors of America was a short lived distribution company established in the USA by the Rank Organisation to distribute its films. The company only lasted a few years before collapsing.

Contents

History

In 1956 Rank established Rank Film Distributors of America to distribute its films in the USA. It would distribute fifteen Rank films plus some non Rank movies. [1] [2] [3] [4] John Davis of Rank declared "it was not a gamble but a reasonable business risk... We know that in our line up product we have stories, stars, backgrounds that cannot fail to appeal." [5]

The company lost a reported $1 million in its first year with its only success being The Pursuit of the Graf Spee, which made over $500,000. However some high-profile films such as Reach for the Sky made just $100,000 and most films grossed between $50,000 and $75,000. [6]

Irv Sochin, general sales manager, left the company in October 1958 which was seen as a sign trouble within the company. [7] [8] The company had high hopes for the US success of Night to Remember but this film also underperformed. [6]

The company closed on 28 March 1959, its movies being handed over to Lopert Films. [9] The company was called a "fiasco". [10]

Select films distributed

References

  1. ↑ "Hargreaves spade work in America begins". Variety. 21 November 1956. p. 5.
  2. ↑ "British bringing in own ad expert for US drive". Variety. 21 November 1956. p. 10.
  3. ↑ "'Reach for the Sky' rushed in 20 college towns". Variety. 22 May 1957. p. 5.
  4. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (5 June 2025). "Forgotten British Studios: Rank Organisation Film Productions". Filmink. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  5. ↑ Davis, John (8 January 1958). "British movies can be sold". Variety. p. 180.
  6. 1 2 "Sad, expected end of Rank-Yank". Variety. 18 March 1958. p. 7.
  7. ↑ "Irv Sochin exits at Rank-Yank". Variety. 1 October 1958. p. 16.
  8. ↑ "Rank-Yank pins hopes on 'A Night to Remember'". Variety. 29 October 1958. p. 3.
  9. ↑ "US exhibs pay off in lip". Variety. 25 March 1950. p. 11.
  10. ↑ "US build up of film imports". Variety. 15 April 1959. p. 1.
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