Flying Bee at 19:52, 11 August 2021

2021-08-11T19:52:38Z

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{{Infobox venue
| name = Le Grand Rex
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| image = Legrandrexfacade.jpg
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| caption = Facade of the cinema
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| former names = ''Le Rex''
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| location = Paris
| coordinates = {{Coord|48.870550|2.347750|display=title}}
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| owner = Alexandre Hellmann
| operator = SAS Le Grand Rex Paris
| designation =
| type = Cinema
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| capacity = {{formatnum:2702}}, 500, 262, 215, 141, 123 and 87
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| screens = 7 screening halls <br />1 concert and show venue <br />1 club (Rex Club)<br />1 Museum (Rex Studios)
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| opened = {{Start date|1932|12|08}}
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| architect = Auguste Bluysen
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| website = {{URL|www.legrandrex.com }}
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}}

'''Le Grand Rex''' is a Parisian cinema and [[Music venue|concert venue]].

== Location and access ==
It is located at {{n°|1}}, boulevard Poissonnière in the [[2nd arrondissement of Paris|2nd arrondissement]], on the [[Boulevards of Paris|grands boulevards]].

Its facades and roofs, as well as its hall and its decor have been listed as a [[Monument Historique]] since a decree on October 5, 1981.<ref>{{Mérimée|PA00086015}}</ref> This giant cinema has a capacity of more than 2700 people in its great hall and posts an average attendance levels of 1 million visitors per year<ref name="History">{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.legrandrex.com/en/toute-une-histoire/ |website=legrandrex.com |access-date=April 26, 2021}}</ref>{{,}}.<ref>This number does not take account of the shows and concerts taking place in the great hall, but only the cinema attendance levels.</ref>

Le Grand Rex is served by the Metro lines 8 and 9 at the ''Bonne-Nouvelle'' [[List of Paris Métro stations|station]], as well as by the [[RATP bus network|bus]] lines 20, 32 and 39.

== History ==
In the early 1930s, [[Jacques Haïk]], a wealthy movie producer and distributor and the owner of the [[Olympia (Paris)|Olympia]], gets the idea of building a very extravagant cinema: it could have a capacity of more than 5000 spectators on a surface area of {{formatnum:2000}} m², with a ceiling peaking at more than 30 meters, representing a luminous starry vault.

Its designers are the architect Auguste Bluysen and the engineer [[John Eberson]]. The facade is designed by the sculptor Henri-Édouard Navarre and the decoration of the great hall by Maurice Dufrène.

The Grand Rex is a scale model of the famous [[Radio City Music Hall]] in New York City.

The cinema is also known for its interior decor. Specialized in "atmospheric halls", its architects built more than 400 decors of phantasmatic cities under cloudy, clear or starry skies in the United States.

Here, the great hall has been decorated by an "ancient Mediterranean" city in relief, located in the open air with its colorful walls reproducing the [[Art deco]] atmosphere of the "French Riviera" villas.

All of the architect's desires were fulfilled, except for the number of seats, which originally had to be reduced to {{formatnum:3300}}.<ref name="History"/>

The Grand Rex hall opens its doors on the evening of December 8, 1932, in the presence of the cinema's pioneer, [[Louis Lumière]] and {{formatnum:3300}} guests. ''[[The Three Musketeers (1932 film)|The Three Musketeers]]'' by [[Henri Diamant-Berger]] is on the bill.<ref name="History"/>

It is one the biggest halls in Paris.

The projection booth is located in the corbel of the rue Poissonnière. The angle lantern is actually a simple metal trellis on which was projected cement mortar.

The producer and director [[Émile Couzinet]] opens a small ''Rex'' in Bordeaux (800 seats), designed by the same architects, which stays open until the 1970s.<ref name="History"/>

Despite the success of the Grand Rex, Jacques Haïk files for bankruptcy and sells it to [[Gaumont Film Company|Gaumont]], before Jean Hellmann, Alan Byre and Laudy Lawrence buy it themselves.<ref name="History"/>

=== From the 1940s to the1980s ===
During the [[Paris in World War II|Occupation]], the Grand Rex is requisitioned by the German army, which turns it into « Soldatenkino », saving it for its troops of soldiers on leave. In September 1942 it is the target of a bombing by the Détachement Valmy.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Berlière |first1=Jean-Marc |last2=Liaigre |first2=Franck |editor1-link=Éditions Robert Laffont |title=Liquider les traîtres : la face cachée du PCF, 1941–1943 |date=2007 |publisher=Laffont |location=Paris |isbn=978-2-221-10756-0 |pages=510 |language=French}}</ref> The cinema reopens on October 13, 1944, after the [[Liberation of Paris]]. It shows an American film, while [[chewing-gum]]s are available during the intermission. From April 12 to June 22, 1945, it temporarily closes, turned into a welcome center for the [[French prisoners of war in World War II|repatriate war prisoners]]. In 1946, ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'' is the first [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] feature film to be shown there.<ref name="History"/>

At that time, the program of Grand Rex is divided in two parts, with an intermission in between: a first one with a musical opening and the [[newsreel|news]], a second one with attractions (waterfalls, erupting volcanos…) and then the proper film. Dancers, musicians, machinery and ushers are therefore necessary for the smooth running of the show.<ref name="History"/>

Starting on December 4, 1953, the first feature film in [[CinemaScope]], ''[[The Robe (film)|The Robe]]'', directed by [[Henry Koster]], is projected there in tandem with the {{ill|UGC Normandie |fr|lt=Normandie}} cinema located on the Champs-Elysées.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Meusy |first1=Jean-Jacques |title=Ecrans Français de l'Entre-Deux-Guerres |publisher=AFRHC édition |page=152 |language=French}}</ref> In 1950 already, during the screening of ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'', the projectionist had enlarged the image during fire scenes.<ref name="History"/>

After the failure of the "Le Miroir de Neptune" (The Neptune Mirror) attraction in 1953 (swimmers performing in a transparent pool placed on the stage), the "Féerie des eaux" (Magic waters) attraction is created in March 1954, during which {{formatnum:3000}} liters are projected twenty meters high with lighting effects and a musical accompaniment. It is a success: water shows have enlivened the great hall every year at Christmas since 1954, the "Féerie des eaux" (Magic waters), shortly before the screening of the end of the year [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] film.

In 1957, the [[escalator]] of the Grand Rex is inaugurated by [[Gary Cooper]] and [[Mylène Demongeot]], superseding elevators.<ref name="History"/> It is the first time a European hall is equipped with such material.

In 1960, the cinema experiences a better attendance level than the [[Louvre]] Museum. Eight years later, the combination of the "Féerie des eaux" (Magic waters) and of ''[[The Jungle Book (1967 film)|The Jungle Book]]'' enables the Grand Rex to receive around 500 000 spectators.<ref name="History"/>

In 1963, [[Alfred Hitchcock]] presents its new movie, ''[[The Birds (film)|The Birds]]'' there.

In 1974, three small halls are added to the complex, at the location of the dressing and rehearsal rooms. The Rex Club, a [[nightclub|disco club]], replaces the "Rêve" dancing, a chic establishment which was created in 1932.<ref name="History"/>

=== Since the 1980s ===
In 1984, the Grand Rex includes seven halls, then eight in 1990, but without having needed to divide the great hall, going against a trend noticeable in other cinemas. The Grand Rex and its Art deco facade are listed in the inventory of the [[Monument Historique]] in 1981.<ref name="History"/>

In 1988 "Le Grand Large" (The Great Large) is installed, a 300 square meters screen, making it the biggest in Europe (excluding [[IMAX]]).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cappelle |first1=Laura |title=Le Grand Rex, plus grand cinéma d'Europe, a su conserver son âme et sa démesure |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/ete/article/2011/08/16/le-grand-rex-plus-grand-cinema-d-europe-a-su-conserver-son-ame-et-sa-demesure_1560119_1383719.html |work=Le Monde |date=August 16, 2011 |language=French}}</ref> Designed and created by Luc Heripret, it is inaugurated by [[Luc Besson]]’s ''[[The Big Blue]]'', which totals {{formatnum:700000}} tickets sold at the Grand Rex after months on the bill.<ref name="History"/>

In 1997, the Grand Rex opens its program to festivals, concerts and [[solo performance]]s of many artists who perform on stage.

In 1988, the director [[Peter Jackson]] receives an award for its ''[[Bad Taste]]'' film there, and, in 2002, the singer [[Britney Spears]] is present for the screening of ''[[Crossroads (2002 film)|Crossroads]]'' in which she plays, causing a riot during which some outside windows are shattered.<ref name="History"/>

In 2009, the facade is equipped with digital signs, whose light showcases its Art deco column.<ref name="History"/>

In 2017, the great hall is renovated.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Henry |first1=Christine |title=Paris : le Grand Rex retrouve tout son éclat |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/paris-75/paris-75002/paris-le-grand-rex-retrouve-tout-son-eclat-10-09-2017-7249848.php |access-date=April 26, 2021 |work=Le Parisien |date=September 10, 2017 |language=French}}</ref>

While its contemporary attendance levels are usually close to a million spectators, the [[COVID-19 pandemic in France|COVID-19 pandemic]] forces the Grand Rex to close in August 2020, for lack of sufficient audience and films, after trying, at the end of the first lockdown in June, to screen retrospectives and thematic marathons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guichard |first1=Marine |title=Le mythique cinéma Le Grand Rex ferme ses portes en août, une première depuis son ouverture |url=https://dailygeekshow.com/grand-rex-cinema-fermeture/ |access-date=April 26, 2021 |work=dailygeekshow.com |date=July 29, 2020 |language=French}}</ref> Starting from December of the same year, the cinema is being fully renovated.<ref>{{cite news |title=Travaux au Grand Rex Paris |url=https://www.layher.fr/travaux-au-grand-rex-paris/ |access-date=April 26, 2021 |work=layher.fr |date=February 25, 2021 |language=French}}</ref>

The Grand Rex has become, in France and even in Europe, one of the emblematic places of the cinema, remarkable by its architecture and its decoration. It now has a capacity ranging from {{formatnum:2700}} to {{formatnum:2800}} spectators in its great hall.

It is now famous for hosting great premieres with the films’ crews<ref name="History"/> as well as special events, called “Marathons”, which gathers the fans of a franchise (''[[Star Wars]]'', ''[[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]'', the adaptations of ''Tolkien''’s work or else ''[[The Hunger Games (film series)|The Hunger Games]]'' for example).

== Technical specifications sheet ==
* Equipment: 7 halls of {{formatnum:2702}}, 500, 262, 210, 155, 125 and 100 seats; screening in 35 mm and [[Digital cinema|digital]] – stereophonic sound in [[Dolby Digital|Dolby]]/[[DTS (sound system)|Digital Theater Systems]]
* Owner: Marianne Hellmann
* Operator: SAS Le Grand Rex Paris

=== The Great Hall ===
* {{formatnum:2702}} seats,
* Large and comfortable leather chairs for the orchestra,
* A mezzanine equipped with the same chairs as the orchestra,
* A 2nd balcony with {{formatnum:1200}} seats,
* A luminous arch,
* A large adjustable stage (shows and concerts),
* A stage screen which is 16.9 meters large and 7 meters high, located on the stage (under the luminous arch),
* Three DP 32 4K projectors,
* A screen named “Le Grand Large” (The Great Large), which is 24.9 meters large and 11.35 meters high (about 280 m²). It is uncoiled and coiled in front of the luminous arch.

<gallery widths="200" heights="180" caption="The Grand Rex">
File:Public Grande Salle.jpg
File:Rex - Grande Salle.jpg
File:Le Rex - Grande Salle By Nicolas Thomas.jpg|<center>Great hall.</center>
File:Facade Rex.jpg
</gallery>

=== Le Grand Large (The Great Large) ===

This screen, one of the biggest in France and which takes up the entire available width of the hall, is hidden in the cinema’s ceiling and only comes out for screenings. While it is uncoiled in the dark, the spectators can discover an original presentation in 2D or 3D.

The audience is only seated on the 2nd balcony and ends up particularly close to the screen.

Projection: 2 Barco DP32 projectors in 4k.<ref>{{cite web |title=ymagis certificates |url=http://extranet.ymagis.net/publics/certificates}}</ref>

=== The Rex’s other halls ===
Since 2017, the Grand Rex has renovated its halls every year. We can find:
* Hall 2: 500 seats
* Hall 3: 238 seats called the “Gotham” hall
* Hall 5: 163 seats called the “Matrix” hall
* Hall 4: 122 seats
* Hall 7: 109 seats called the “Tron” hall
* Hall 6: 78 seats called the “Love” hall

<gallery widths="200" heights="180" caption="The Grand Rex">
File:Salle 2 Rex.jpg|Hall 2 - Photographer: Thomas Laconis
File:Salle 3.jpg|''ditto''.
File:Salle 4 Rex.jpg|''ditto''.
File:Salle 5.jpg|''ditto'.
File:Salle 6.jpg|''ditto''.
File:Salle 7.jpg|''ditto''.
</gallery>

== Rex Studios ==

A 50-minute course is available behind the big screen, backstage and in the technical spaces of the cinema. Initiated by Francois Confino and Philippe Hellmann, it is designed and created by Luc Heripret, in collaboration with the set designer Pascal Mazoyer. The course presents the history of the Grand Rex before diving into the world of the cinema's occupations and special effects in an interactive and playful way: pedestrian and filmed course. The visitor gradually becomes the extra of a shooting before being projected in a film extract, whose recording they will be able to buy.

== Escape Game ==

In 2021, the Grand Rex offers its clients a new attraction which immerses the spectators in riddles to help save the greatest cinema classics. This [[escape room|escape game]] which progresses through different rooms representing the main themes of the 7th art forces the clients to focus to collect a maximum of points.

It is designed and created by Luc Heripret and Team Break within the Rex Studios.

== La Féerie des eaux (Magic waters) ==
Each year, the Christmas [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] cartoon is traditionally screened in the Grand Rex great hall (screen under the arc).

The screening starts two weeks before the French national release.

As the opening act, the audience can attend a sound, light and water show called the ''Féerie des eaux'' (Magic waters). A huge pool and {{formatnum:1200}} colored water jets are placed on the stage for this.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

* {{cite book |author1=Jean-Michel Frodon |author2=Dina Iordanova |author3=Renaud Olivero |author1-link=Jean-Michel Frodon |title=Cinémas de Paris |date=2017 |location=Paris |isbn=978-2-271-11480-8 |pages=220–223 |edition=[[CNRS Editions]] |url=http://www.cnrseditions.fr/cinema/7449-cinemas-de-paris.html |language=French |chapter=Le Grand Rex}}

== See also ==
* [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Le_Grand_Rex?uselang=en Category:Le Grand Rex]

=== External links ===
* [http://www.legrandrex.com/home.php Official website]
* [http://www.zecinema.net/le-blog-du-spectateur/il-etait-une-fois-le-grand-rex The Grand Rex history]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cinemas in Paris]]
[[Category:Art Deco architecture]]
[[Category:Theatres in Paris]]
[[Category:Music venues in Paris]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris]]
[[Category:Art Deco architecture in France]]
[[Category:Atmospheric theatres]]
[[Category:John Eberson buildings]]
[[Category:Theatres completed in 1932]]

Grand Rex - Revision history

Flying Bee at 19:52, 11 August 2021