Anne Chevalier (also known as Reri; 1912–1977) was a French- Tahitanian actress, singer and dancer.

Early life

Anna Irma Ruahrei Chevalier, born in 1912, was the seventh child to a Frenchman Laurence Chevalier and his Polynesian wife. She received education from a Catholic girls' school at

Papeete Papeete (Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Papeʻetē'', pronounced ; old name: ''Vaiʻetē''Personal communication with Michael Koch in ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the France, French Republic in the Pacific ...

. At age 16, Chevalier was spotted by German director F.W. Murnau who was looking for a Polynesian girl to play the lead role in his silent film '' Tabu: A Story of the South Seas'' (1931), whose story revolved around the fate of a couple when the young girl Reri is to be offered as a sacred maiden to Gods.''Tabu'' has been lauded as "one of the last of the great silent films". Chevalier went to the United States for promoting the film and spent nearly a year there, appearing in the 1931 Broadway show of ''

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' were a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as '' The Ziegfeld Foll ...

'' and visiting several Hollywood studios. From there, she went to Europe for ''Tabu'' premiere in Berlin and also performed at dance shows in Paris and Warsaw. Chevalier's second film role was opposite Eugeniusz Bodo in the Polish romantic drama '' Black Pearl'' (1934). She played a Tahitian woman who marries a Polish sailor and becomes a dancing sensation in her quest to gain acceptance by her husband's society. Ohio state censor banned the film, citing their policy against interracial marriage. Three years later, she made a brief appearance in

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...

's '' The Hurricane'', another film set in the South Seas.

Personal life

During her stay in Europe, Chevalier was romantically involved with her ''Black Pearl'' co-star Eugeniusz Bodo. Polish media even referred to her as his wife, but the couple soon separated and Chevalier returned to

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian language, Tahitian , ; ) is the largest island of the Windward Islands (Society Islands), Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located in the central part of t ...

. She died there in 1977.

Filmography

* '' Tabu: A Story of the South Seas'' (1931) * '' Black Pearl'' (1934) * '' The Hurricane'' (1937)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chevalier, Anne French Polynesian actresses French Polynesian dancers Polish film actresses American film actresses People from Bora Bora 1912 births 1977 deaths 20th-century American dancers 20th-century American actresses 20th-century French women French dancers