Cinemogul J. Arthur Rank had stood his ground against his critics with all the solemn dignity of an elephant harried by terriers. But last week, the heel-nipping of London's press drew blood. So did their implications that Rank's General Cinema Finance Corp. Ltd., which produces Rank's pictures, was short of cash. Reluctantly Rank opened the books of G.C.F. and gave outsiders their first peek into his movie finances.
Rank's producing companies—all controlled by G.C.F.—were leaner than even his U.S. rivals had hoped. Hollywood had guessed that he had lost money on such...