(1882–1972)
an English businessman who established two highly successful companies, the Rank Group and Rank Hovis McDougall . He was a Methodist and became involved in films in 1933 as a way of spreading religious ideas. In 1935 Rank helped to establish Pinewood Studios and in 1941 he gained control of Gaumont and the Odeon Theatre group, which all became part of the Rank Organization. He was made a life peer in 1957.