Gongman
Encyclopedia
The Gongman is a company trademark for the Rank Organisation
. It was used as the introduction to all Rank films, many of which were created at their Pinewood Studios
).
The gongman sequence combines a depiction of a man with the deep resonant sound of a huge gong. The gongs used in the films were props made of plaster or papier-mâché
, with the sound of the gong
done by James Blades
on a Chinese instrument called a tam tam
. During the sequence the text 'J. Arthur Rank
presents', 'The Rank Organisation' or 'Rank Film Distributors' appeared over the gong.
People who have played the Gongman include Carl Dane, "Bombardier" Billy Wells
, Phil Nieman, and Ken Richmond.
, Kenneth Williams
' character refers to an over-enthusiastic gongman's attitude as "rank stupidity". In addition, the opening to the ATV Thursday Picture Show used an animated version. According to Sub-TV, who has a video of the opening, "the gong-smasher here is a non-muscley man in an old-fashioned swimming costume and a cloth cap!" The man whacks an ATV
logo, not a gong, and the logo smashes into pieces when it gets whacked.
The now defunct Swedish film distributor Triangelfilm had a similar vignette with an animated man hitting a triangle.
In the American television series Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders
, the production company that produced the show had two men that were about ready to strike a gong (a la the "Gongman"), with the man on the right (holding the gong mallet) striking the man on the left in the groin
region and leaving him in agony (this was followed by a gong sound).
In the closing seconds of the video to Queen
's Bohemian Rhapsody
, percussionist Roger Taylor
mimics the Rank gongman by striking a large tam tam whilst stripped to the waist.
During the Gilligan's Island
episode in which the castaways produce a film explaining their situation to any potential viewer, Gilligan performs their own version of the Rank logo sequence. Unfortunately, when he strikes the gong, he shakes uncontrollably at the vibrations created in doing that.
The title sequence of the Mickey Mouse Club
TV show's original run ended with Donald Duck
striking a gong, with varying results.
On The Muppets Go to the Movies, the Muppets parody the Gongman with "J. Arthur Link", showing Muppet pig Link Hogthrob
in the nude, swinging at the gong, missing, spinning around losing his balance, and hitting the gong with his head.
Rank Organisation
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities....
. It was used as the introduction to all Rank films, many of which were created at their Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
).
The gongman sequence combines a depiction of a man with the deep resonant sound of a huge gong. The gongs used in the films were props made of plaster or papier-mâché
Papier-mâché
Papier-mâché , alternatively, paper-mache, is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with textiles, bound with an adhesive, such as glue, starch, or wallpaper paste....
, with the sound of the gong
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
done by James Blades
James Blades
James "Jimmy" Blades OBE was an English percussionist.He was one of the most distinguished percussionists in Western music, with long and varied career. His book Percussion Instruments and their History is a standard reference work on the subject Blades was born in Peterborough, England in 1901...
on a Chinese instrument called a tam tam
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
. During the sequence the text 'J. Arthur Rank
J. Arthur Rank
Joseph Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank was a British industrialist and film producer, and founder of the Rank Organisation, now known as The Rank Group Plc.- Family business :...
presents', 'The Rank Organisation' or 'Rank Film Distributors' appeared over the gong.
People who have played the Gongman include Carl Dane, "Bombardier" Billy Wells
William Thomas Wells
William Thomas Wells, better known as Bombardier Billy Wells , was an English heavyweight boxer. Fighting under the name "Bombardier Billy Wells," he was British and British Empire Champion from 1911 until 1919, defending his title fourteen times...
, Phil Nieman, and Ken Richmond.
Parodies
The Gongman was often parodied over the years. In Carry On up the KhyberCarry On up the Khyber
Carry On Up the Khyber is the sixteenth Carry On film, released in 1968. It stars Carry On regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Bernard Bresslaw and Peter Butterworth. Roy Castle makes his only Carry On appearance in the "romantic male lead" part usually played by Jim...
, Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Charles Williams was an English comic actor and comedian. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the Carry On films, and appeared in numerous British television shows, and radio comedies with Tony Hancock and Kenneth Horne.-Life and career:Kenneth Charles Williams was born on 22 February...
' character refers to an over-enthusiastic gongman's attitude as "rank stupidity". In addition, the opening to the ATV Thursday Picture Show used an animated version. According to Sub-TV, who has a video of the opening, "the gong-smasher here is a non-muscley man in an old-fashioned swimming costume and a cloth cap!" The man whacks an ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
logo, not a gong, and the logo smashes into pieces when it gets whacked.
The now defunct Swedish film distributor Triangelfilm had a similar vignette with an animated man hitting a triangle.
In the American television series Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders
Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders
Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders is the title of a comedy series that aired on ABC for two short seasons in the mid-1980s. The series was hosted by Steve Lawrence and Don Rickles....
, the production company that produced the show had two men that were about ready to strike a gong (a la the "Gongman"), with the man on the right (holding the gong mallet) striking the man on the left in the groin
Groin attack
A groin attack is an attempt to cause pain to the groin area of one's opponent. The technique can be quickly debilitating, due to the large number of sensitive nerve endings in the penis and testicles of males, as well as the highly innervated vulva of females. A sufficiently powerful blow may...
region and leaving him in agony (this was followed by a gong sound).
In the closing seconds of the video to Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera...
, percussionist Roger Taylor
Roger Meddows-Taylor
Roger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...
mimics the Rank gongman by striking a large tam tam whilst stripped to the waist.
During the Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
episode in which the castaways produce a film explaining their situation to any potential viewer, Gilligan performs their own version of the Rank logo sequence. Unfortunately, when he strikes the gong, he shakes uncontrollably at the vibrations created in doing that.
The title sequence of the Mickey Mouse Club
Mickey Mouse Club
The Mickey Mouse Club is an American variety television show that began in 1955, produced by Walt Disney Productions and televised by the ABC, featuring a regular but ever-changing cast of teenage performers. The Mickey Mouse Club was created by Walt Disney...
TV show's original run ended with Donald Duck
Donald Duck
Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
striking a gong, with varying results.
On The Muppets Go to the Movies, the Muppets parody the Gongman with "J. Arthur Link", showing Muppet pig Link Hogthrob
Link Hogthrob
Link Hogthrob was a fictional character, a Muppet pig on The Muppet Show, performed by Jim Henson. The character was that of a stereotypical leading man, with wavy blond hair, a manly cleft chin, and a high opinion of himself, but not much between the ears....
in the nude, swinging at the gong, missing, spinning around losing his balance, and hitting the gong with his head.
External links
- sub-TV page which contains the open to the ATV Thursday Picture Show in MPEG format
- Article in The Independent about the death of final Gongman Ken Richmond and a little about the role