JOSEPH ARTHUR RANK - TYPED LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 252707

JOSEPH ARTHUR RANK
Joseph Arthur Rank sends a typed letter saying that he is unable to answer individual questions about the film industry but to read published articles.
Typed Letter Signed: "J. Arthur Rank", 1p,8x10 personal letterhead. England, 1947 August 26. To John Fischbach, Esq., St. Louis, Missouri. In full: "I thank you for your letter of the 7th instant. You will appreciate that I cannot answer individual questions put to me by members of the public in relation to the film industry and I feel that, in any event, the points which you raise in your letter have, in fact, been covered by articles which have been reproduced in various periodicals, both in your country and in this country. Yours faithfully," Joseph Arthur Rank (1888-1972) was an English movie producer and screenwriter. A devout Methodist, Rank reportedly got into movies to spread the word of God. When his early films didn't get good circulation, Rank created the Odeon chain of movie houses and converted an old Victorian House into Pinewood Studios. Rank gave directors like David Lean, the Archers and Carol Reed artistic freedom to create some of Britain's most successful movies. However, an ill-advised attempt to spread into the United States in the 1940s led to him selling off Pinewood Studios and another of his acquisitions, Denham Studios. He was made Baron Rank in 1957. Lightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition.