He was entombed at the Hollywood Memorial Cemetery (now known as Hollywood Forever). [113][295] The former film building at Chapman University in Orange, California, is named in honor of DeMille. [175][176] His personal will drew a line between Cecilia and his three adopted children, with Cecilia receiving a majority of DeMille's inheritance and estate. Alternative names DeMille, Cecil Blount Short description Film director: Date of birth August 12, 1881 Place of birth Cause of death. Cecil Blount DeMille. finding aid. Studio: A Cecil B. DeMille Production Paramount Pictures Premiered: February 4, 1938 Featured Cast: Fredric March, Franciska Gaal, Akim Tamiroff Producer-director: Cecil B. DeMille Screenwriter: Harold Lamb, Edwin Justus Mayer, C. Gardner Sullivan Source: Lyle Saxon's book Lafitte the Pirate Additional writers: Emily Barrye, Grover Jones, Jesse Lasky Jr., Jeanie Macpherson, Preston . DeMille served as executive producer, overseeing producer Henry Wilcoxon. He also toured with the Standard Opera Company, but there are few records to indicate DeMille's singing ability. [27] Before Henry deMille's death, Beatrice had "enthusiastically supported" her husband's theatrical aspirations. [15] The two were married on July 1, 1876, despite Beatrice's parents' objections because of the young couple's differing religions; Beatrice converted to Episcopalianism. DeMille had considered making the film himself. Cecil B. DeMille. [250] Five of DeMille's film were the highest-grossing films at the year of their release, with only Spielberg topping him with six of his films as the highest-grossing films of the year. Ben Gabbe/Getty. The United States Supreme Court declined to review his case. [304] Additionally, in 1958, he received an honorary Doctorate of Law degree from Temple University. [103] It held the Paramount record for twenty-five years until DeMille broke the record again himself. [201], DeMille experimented in his early films with photographic light and shade which created dramatic shadows instead of glare. [190], DeMille's filmmaking process always began with extensive research. [160] Production of The Ten Commandments began in October 1954. Here is all you want to know, and more! He volunteered for the Intelligence Office during World War II as well. Let's take a look back at 20 of his greatest movies, ranked worst to best. (1950) $10,000. Occupations. [245], Known as the father of the Hollywood motion picture industry, Cecil B. DeMille made 70 films including several box-office hits. According to director of photography Janusz Kaminski, Steven Spielberg's earliest home movies still exist, and were consulted for the scene in "The Fabelmans" in which young Sammy Fabelman recreates a train crash scene from Cecil B. DeMille's 1952 film "The Greatest Show on Earth." "We've watched them before, but they are a little too primitive [] I'm ready for my close-up." [287][288] The Lasky-DeMille Barn was dedicated as a California historical landmark in a ceremony on December 27, 1956; DeMille was the keynote speaker. [41] The Return of Peter Grimm sparked controversy; however, because Belasco had taken DeMille's unnamed screenplay, changed the characters and named it The Return of Peter Grimm, producing and presenting it as his own work. Birth place. Cause of death: Heart failure: Nationality: American: Occupation: Producer, director, editor, screenwriter, actor: Years active: 1913-1959: Spouse(s) Constance Adams (1902-1959) Partner(s) Jeanie MacPherson Julia Faye: Parent(s) Henry Churchill DeMille Beatrice Samuel: Cecil Blount DeMille (August 12, 1881 - January 21, 1959) was an . *mother - Ashkenazi Jewish. [115] In 1916, DeMille purchased a mansion in Hollywood. According to Richard Birchard, DeMille's weakened state during production may have led to the film being received as uncharacteristically substandard. DeMille used clips from his own films in Land of Liberty. Cecil B. DeMille's final film, another version of The Ten Commandments , is his most widely seen work, thanks to Easter-time television programming, but it is not one of his most respected. [123] The Sign of the Cross was the first film to integrate all cinematic techniques. [188][189] DeMille recalled that one of the most influential plays he saw was Hamlet, directed by Sothern. With his editor, Anne Bauchens, DeMille used editing techniques to allow the visual images to bring the plot to climax rather than dialogue. [109] Eight of his films were "epics" with five of those classified as "Biblical". From the archive, 22 January 1959: Pioneering film maker Cecil B. deMille dies Even the severest critics of his films had to concede that he was a great showman Cecil B. deMille (1881-1959). [127] However, according to DeMille himself, he was not anti-union and belonged to a few unions himself. [172] DeMille's funeral was held on January 23 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. Notably, DeMille had cinematographer John P. Fulton create the parting of the Red Sea scene in his 1956 film The Ten Commandments, which was one of the most expensive special effects in film history, and has been called by Steven Spielberg "the greatest special effect in film history". [205], Composer Elmer Bernstein described DeMille as "sparing no effort" when filmmaking. Cecil B. DeMille. After reading the screenplay, Daniel A. Lord warned DeMille that Catholics would find the film too irreverent, while non-Catholics would have considered the film Catholic propaganda. Cause of death. Sunset Blvd. We should get down on our knees to Cecil and say "Thank you! Hot! [305] From the film industry, DeMille received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award at the Academy Awards in 1953,[306] and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America Award the same year. [229] He began the production of epics earlier in his career until they began to solidify his career in the 1920s. His daughter Cecilia took over as director as DeMille sat behind the camera with Loyal Griggs as the cinematographer. Furthermore, DeMille's film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Academy Award for Best Story. [187] E.H. Sothern's early influence on DeMille's work can be seen in DeMille's perfectionism. William had been a successful playwright, but DeMille was suffering from the failure of his plays The Royal Mounted and The Genius. The first, for radio contributions, is located at 6240 Hollywood Blvd. Spanish Wikipedia. However, his final films maintained that DeMille was still respected by his audiences. Sarris added that despite the influence of styles of contemporary directors throughout his career, DeMille's style remained unchanged. [124] DeMille followed this epic uncharacteristically with two dramas released in 1933 and 1934. [258], DeMille was one of the first directors to become a celebrity in his own right. Memoir of DeMille titled 'The Autobiography of Cecil B. DeMille' was published in 1959. DeMille's primary criticism was of closed shops, but later included criticism of communism and unions in general. [202] DeMille was unique in using this technique. [8] Henry de Mille, whose ancestors were of English and Dutch-Belgian descent, was a North Carolina-born dramatist, actor, and lay reader in the Episcopal Church. Consequently, DeMille's television and radio appearance ban lasted for the remainder of his life, though he was permitted to appear on radio or television to publicize a movie. Friday 12 Aug 1881. [130] From 1936 to 1945, he produced, hosted, and directed all shows with the occasional exception of a guest director. [84] In 1916, exhausted from three years of nonstop filmmaking, DeMille purchased land in the Angeles National Forest for a ranch which would become his getaway. He debuted as an actor on February 21, 1900, in the play Hearts Are Trumps at New York's Garden Theater. They continued filming in 1955 in Paris and Hollywood on 30 different sound stages. [78] In December 1914, Constance Adams brought home John DeMille, a fifteen-month-old, whom the couple legally adopted three years later. [71] Apfel filmed most of The Squaw Man due to DeMille's inexperience; however, DeMille learned quickly and was particularly adept at impromptu screenwriting as necessary. [156] Fifty-two of his features are silent films. Cecil B. DeMille Birthday and Date of Death. Then, he would help writers construct a script. DeMille: The Master of the American Biblical Epic . [18] DeMille and William collaborated on The Genius, The Royal Mounted, and After Five. [148] Again, 1952's The Greatest Show on Earth became Paramount's highest-grossing film to that point. Cecil B. DeMille Net Worth: Cecil B. DeMille was an American film director and producer who had a net worth equal to $50 million at the time of his death after adjusting for . In addition to his use of volatile and abrupt film editing, his lighting and composition were innovative for the time period as filmmakers were primarily concerned with a clear, realistic image. [107] Aside from The King of Kings, none of DeMille's films away from Paramount were successful. [240] Moreover, before his religious-themed films, many of his silent era films revolved around "husband-and-wife-divorce-and-remarry satires", considerably more adult-themed. View the latest Cecil B. DeMille photos. He bought the rights to the novel in 1925, but abandoned the project in pre-production. His last and best known film, The Ten Commandments (1956), also a Best Picture Academy Award nominee, is currently the eighth-highest-grossing film of all time, adjusted for inflation. [86] A large collection of DeMille's materials including scripts, storyboards, and films resides at Brigham Young University in L. Tom Perry Special Collections. After the film was shown, viewers complained that the shadows and lighting prevented the audience from seeing the actors' full faces, complaining that they would only pay half price. This is the earliest of DeMille's films available in a quality, color-tinted video format. [274] DeMille has influenced the careers of many modern directors. 10 June 2021. [89] DeMille was maintained as director-general and Goldwyn became chairman of the board. [281] However, not everyone received DeMille's religious films favorably. After the death of William deMille, DeMille revealed to Richard DeMille that William was his father and he had been born to William and a mistress. 77. 1956 theater brochure [61] Moreover, when he was busy directing other films, he would co-author other Lasky Company scripts as well as create screen adaptations that others directed. [136] During pre-production of Union Pacific, DeMille was dealing with his first serious health issue. Belasco was known for adding realistic elements in his plays such as real flowers, food, and aromas that could transport his audiences into the scenes. This Day and Age and Four Frightened People were box office disappointments, though Four Frightened People received good reviews. d. 21 st January 1959, Hollywood, California, USA. This was the first feature-length film made in Hollywood. However, he would never again vote for a Democratic candidate in a presidential election. He was eventually introduced to Oscar Apfel, a stage director who had been a director with the Edison Company. [165] This film would be his last. [81] The most successful films during the beginning of the Lasky Company were Brewster's Millions (co-directed by DeMille), Rose of the Rancho, and The Ghost Breaker. [41] His first play was The Pretender-A Play in a Prologue and 4 Acts set in seventeenth century Russia. Chromium. Radford, Bill. Sitting in an IMAX Broadway Actor. [52] The collaboration of DeMille and Lasky produced a successful musical called California which opened in New York in January 1912. She later became the second female play broker on Broadway. Cause of death: Heart failure: Nationality: American: Occupation: Producer, director, editor, screenwriter, actor: Years active: 1913-1959: Spouse(s) Constance Adams . cause of death. Robin Williams won the Cecil B. DeMille Awards in 2005. His tentative plan was to shoot a film in Arizona, but he felt that Arizona did not typify the Western look they were searching for. Instead of portraying the danger and anarchy of the West, he portrayed the opportunity and redemption found in Western America. Cecil Blount DeMille (August 12, 1881 - January 21, 1959) was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. [64] The Lasky Company bought the rights to the play The Squaw Man by Edwin Milton Royle and cast Dustin Farnum in the lead role. [235] DeMille was also known for his use of special effects without the use of digital technology. He was the first recipient of the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, which was named in his honor. [13] She had emigrated from England with her parents in 1871 when she was 18; the newly arrived family settled in Brooklyn, New York, where they maintained a middle-class, English-speaking household. heart failure. [319] The Ten Commandments is broadcast every Saturday at Passover in the United States on the ABC Television Network. [39] In the summer of 1905 DeMille joined the stock cast at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado. Among his best-known films are The Ten Commandments (1956), Cleopatra (1934), and The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He joined the Producers Distributing Corporation. Zukor became president with Lasky as the vice president. He was confined to bed and unable to eat. He said he was rather against union leaders such as Walter Reuther and Harry Bridges whom he compared to dictators. Right here at FameChain. vigilantes and fulminating fanatics suffering flock shock and who wanted to shut down 1920s Hollywood because of the cause clbre scandals . Peters claimed that he encouraged the cast to attend the funeral with him anyway since DeMille would not be able to shoot the film without him. 1. [191] DeMille was the first director to connect art to filmmaking; he created the title of "art director" on the film set. Cecil B. DeMille: Film director from the United States (1881 - 1959), Actor, Writer, Film producer, Film director, Film editor, Screenwriter, Playwright, Stage actor . [18] The family lived in Washington, North Carolina,[19] until Henry built a three-story Victorian-style house for his family in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey; they named this estate "Pamlico". This prohibited denying anyone the right to work if they refuse to pay a political assessment, however, the law did not apply retroactively. His first several films were westerns and he produced a chain of westerns during the sound era. In the audience was Charles Frohman who would cast DeMille in his play Hearts are Trumps, DeMille's Broadway debut. [207] Costume designer Dorothy Jeakins, who worked with DeMille on The Ten Commandments (1956), said that he was skilled in humiliating people. AKA Cecil Blount DeMille. [180] and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. DeMille made a 1905 reprise in Hamlet as Osric. His wife did not like Paradise, so DeMille often brought his mistresses there with him including actress Julia Faye. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. [230] Actor Charlton Heston admitted DeMille was, "terribly unfashionable" and Sidney Lumet called Demille, "the cheap version of D.W. Griffith," adding that DeMille, "[didn't have]an original thought in his head," though Heston added that DeMille was much more than that. . Its interracial love story made it commercially successful and it first publicized Hollywood as the home of the U.S. film industry. Biography - A Short WikiDirector of the epic 1956 film The Ten Commandments, which featured Charlton Heston as Moses. Charlie Chaplin lived next door for a time, and after he moved, DeMille purchased the other house and combined the estates. DeMille". Farnum chose $250 per week. [65] Already $15,000 in debt to Royle for the screenplay of The Squaw Man, Lasky's relatives bought the $5,000 stock to save the Lasky Company from bankruptcy. [111], The immense popularity of DeMille's silent films enabled him to branch out into other areas. [179][note 12], DeMille believed his first influences to be his parents, Henry and Beatrice DeMille. Cecil B DeMille Bio Details. Birthplace: Ashfield, MA Location of death: Hollywood, CA Cause of death: Heart Failure Remains: Bu. [268] DeMille appeared as himself in numerous films, including the MGM comedy Free and Easy. He is particularly remembered for his 1956 film "The Ten Commandments", but made over 70 films throughout his long career. "[35] DeMille had more violent sexual preferences and fetishes than his wife. [241] Religion was a theme that DeMille returned to throughout his career. [289] The Dunes Center in Guadalupe, California contains an exhibition of artifacts uncovered in the desert near Guadalupe from DeMille's set of his 1923 version of The Ten Commandments, known as the "Lost City of Cecil B. [36] One of DeMille's affairs was with his screenwriter Jeanie MacPherson. [5] On September 1, 1881, the family returned with the newborn DeMille to their flat in New York. [130] He resigned from the Lux Radio Show because he refused to pay a dollar to the American Federation of Radio Artists (AFRA) because he did not believe that any organization had the right to "levy a compulsory assessment upon any member. "[267] Salvador Dal wrote that DeMille, Walt Disney and the Marx Brothers were "the three great American Surrealists".

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