Georges Reich
Georges Reich | |
|---|---|
| Born | Georges Frank Reich 15 December 1926 |
| Died | 4 May 2013 (aged 86) |
| Other name | George F. Reich |
| Education | Ballet Markova Dolin Company |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1948–1970 |
| Partner | Jean Marais (1948–1959) |
Georges Reich (December 15, 1926 – May 4, 2013) was an American-born dancer, choreographer, actor, composer, and director who played a pivotal role in the French cabaret and modern dance scenes of the 1950s and 1960s.[1] He is also widely recognized for his high-profile romantic partnership with the iconic French actor Jean Marais.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Reich was born in Patchogue, Long Island, New York.[3] He began his professional dance training in the United States, performing with the Ballet Markova Dolin Company.[4] He launched his career on Broadway, appearing in the musicals Inside U.S.A. (1948) and Touch and Go (1949).[3]
Career
[edit]Dance career in France (1950s–1960s)
[edit]In the early 1950s, Reich signed a six-month contract to dance at the Lido de Paris, a stay that eventually extended to 18 years in France.[3] In 1955, he founded The Ballet HO de George Reich, the first company to introduce American-style modern dance to the French public.[3]
He was a star at the Moulin Rouge, the Olympia Music Hall, and the Ballet de Paris.[3] Notably, he was the first male principal at the Lido to wear a mirrored G-string, a costume designed for a routine choreographed by Gwen Verdon.[5]
He was offered a seven year contract to stay with MGM Studios.[5] Despite receiving an MGM contract offer following The Glass Slipper (1955), he returned to France.[5] Other film roles included School for Love (1955) and Black Tights (1961).[5]
He directed and choreographed shows for legendary performers including Josephine Baker (Paris Mes Amours, 1957), Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf, Brigitte Bardot, and Line Renaud.[3]
Later career in America
[edit]After his tenure in France, Reich moved back to the United States.[3] He became a major influence in the cruise industry, where his choreography and direction became the standard for Carnival Cruise Line production shows for several decades.[6]
Personal life
[edit]Reich was the romantic companion of actor Jean Marais from approximately 1948 to 1959.[3] The pair were known for their striking physical resemblance—both were athletic and blonde—and lived together on a péniche (houseboat) named L'Apprenti fakir on the Seine.[3] Marais, an accomplished artist, used Reich as a frequent subject for his paintings and sculptures.[7][8]
Death
[edit]Filmography
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Admiral Broadway Revue | Frank James | Episode: Sing in a New Day |
| 1950 | The Saturday Night Revue with Jack Carter | Dancer | S1. Episode: 7 |
Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Daddy Long Legs | Specialty Dancer | |
| 1955 | The Glass Slipper | Dancer | [3] |
| 1955 | School for Love | Dick Killian | [10] |
| 1956 | Les Lumières Du Soir | Steve Crown | [11] |
| 1956 | Cette Sacrée Gamine | Dancer | Choreographer |
| 1956 | Bonsoir Paris | Le maître de ballets | [12] |
| 1957 | La Garçonne | Peer-Rys | [13] |
| 1959 | Julie La Rousse | Dancer | Choreographer |
| 1961 | Black Tights | Christian de Neuvillette | [14] |
| 1962 | Taras Bulba, the Cossack | Ostapi | [15] |
| 1962 | Indiscrétion | Dancer | Director[16] |
| 1970 | Cover Me Babe | Composer | Lyrics |
Artistic Impact
[edit]As a prominent gay American living in Paris during the mid-20th century, his open relationship with Jean Marais and his presence in artistic circles like Cherry Grove on Fire Island made him a significant figure in early LGBTQ+ history.[3] His physical "unworldly handsome" appearance remains immortalized in the paintings and sculptures of Jean Marais, securing his place in 20th-century French art history.[3][5]
Legacy
[edit]Reich's most enduring commercial legacy is in the cruise industry.[5] His choreography and direction became the foundational mainstay for Carnival Cruise Line.[5] Through his company, Le Ballet HO, Reich was the first to introduce American-style modern dance to the French public in the 1950s.[3][5]
References
[edit]- ↑ Film Choreographers and Dance Directors: An Illustrated Biographical Encyclopedia, with a History and Filmographies, 1893 Through 1995. McFarland & Company, Publishers. 1997. p. 462.
- ↑ A Ned Rorem Reader. Yale University Press. 2001. p. 16.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "A Tale as Old as Time". Fire Island & Great South Bay News. July 22, 2023.
- ↑ S. Hurok Presents; A Memoir of the Dance World: Enriched Edition. Dive Into the Heart of Dance: Legends, Triumphs, and Anecdotes. Good Press. 2023. p. 241.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Georges Reich". www.elisarolle.com. January 2, 2026.
- ↑ Bahamian Review: The National Monthly News Magazine of the Bahamas. Cartwright Publications. 1986. p. 36.
- ↑ The Paris Review. Random House, Incorporated. 1991. p. 253.
- ↑ Trambouze, Claude. Jean Marais : Un Homme aux milles. PORTRAIT (in French). Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ↑ "George F. Reich Obituary". Aria Cremation Service and Funeral Home. February 28, 2026.
- ↑ Jean Marais: biographie. A. Carrière. 1994. p. 152.
- ↑ Cahiers du cinéma - Volumes 11-12. Cahiers du cinéma. 2022. p. 60.
- ↑ Cinéma français: les années 50 : les longs métrages réalisés de 1950 à 1959. Éd. du Centre Pompidou. 1987. p. 1956.
- ↑ Marcel Achard: ou, 50 ans de vie parisienne. Éditions France-Empire. 1977. p. 472.
- ↑ Scheuer, Philip K. (4 March 1962). "'Black Tights' Artistic Yet Not Too Highbrow". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Italian Sword and Sandal Films, 1908-1990. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. 2017. p. 168.
- ↑ Encyclopedia of French Film Directors - Volume 1. Scarecrow Press. 2010. p. 855.