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Cecil B. DeMille

Directing

Cecil B. DeMille

Cecil B. DeMille is a director born on August 12, 1881 in Ashfield, Massachusetts, USA. He died on January 21, 1959, aged 77. He is known for The Ten Commandments, The War of the Worlds and The Greatest Show on Earth. GloboWatch shows where to watch one of his movies and TV shows, country by country.

Known for
Directing
Born
August 12, 1881
Place of birth
Ashfield, Massachusetts, USA
Died
January 21, 1959
Also known as
Cecil Blount de Mille · Cecil Blount DeMille

Biography

Cecil Blount DeMille (August 12, 1881 – January 21, 1959) was an American filmmaker, known as a founder of the Hollywood motion-picture industry, one of the most commercially successful producer-directors of his time, and one of the most influential filmmakers in history. Between 1914 and 1956, he made seventy feature films; all but seven were profitable. Cecil B. DeMille is synonymous with religious epics: The King of Kings, Samson and Delilah, and The Ten Commandments (1956). He blended spectacle, sex, and spellbinding narrative to convey a message of faith. It was DeMille who created the image of the omnipotent director, megaphone in hand, wearing boots and a visored cap. DeMille gave Hollywood numerous stars: Wallace Reid, Gloria Swanson, William (“Hopalong Cassidy”) Boyd, Claudette Colbert, Robert Preston, Jean Arthur, and Charlton Heston. DeMille created the posts of studio story editor, art director, and concept artist. He was one of the first to use theatrical lighting on a movie set. In the late 1920s, when Hollywood converted to sound films, DeMille defied the sound experts, liberating the camera from a confining booth, and implementing the microphone boom. DeMille’s authority extended beyond the confines of his studio. He was a power in aviation, banking, politics, and real estate. In the 1930s, his fame as a filmmaker was surpassed by his fame as a radio star. He was a founder of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, an institution from which he eventually won two awards. In 1953 his film The Greatest Show on Earth won the Award for Best Picture of 1952; and he was presented with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. DeMille’s influence on world culture is incalculable, but there are estimates and milestones. His biography of Jesus Christ, The King of Kings, was a silent film, but because of a unique distribution arrangement, it was eventually seen by 800 million viewers. Samson and Delilah (1949) and The Ten Commandments (1956) are still listed with the top ten all-time box-office champions. They continue to generate revenue and provoke thought.

Filmography

  1. 2022The U.S. and the Holocaustas Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
  2. 2021Indiana Jones: The Search for the Lost Golden Ageas Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  3. 2020Yul Brynner, the Magnificentas Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  4. 2019Hail Satan?as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  5. 2019Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epicas Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  6. 2016The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMilleas Self
  7. 1980Hollywoodas Self (archive footage, uncredited) · 1 episode
  8. 1975Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?as Self (archive footage)
  9. 1958The Buccaneeras Presenter of Prologue · Producer · Executive producer
  10. 1957The Buster Keaton Storyas Cecil B. DeMille (uncredited)
  11. 1956The Ten Commandmentsas Narrator (uncredited) · Director · Producer
  12. 1953The War of the WorldsExecutive producer
  13. 1952This Is Your Lifeas Self · 1 episode
  14. 1952Son of Palefaceas Photographer (uncredited)
  15. 1952The Greatest Show on Earthas Narrator (voice) (uncredited) · Director · Producer
  16. 1950Sunset Boulevardas Cecil B. DeMille
  17. 1950What's My Line?as Self · 1 episode
  18. 1949Samson and Delilahas Narrator (uncredited) · Director · Producer
  19. 1947Unconqueredas Self - Narrator (voice) (uncredited) · Director · Producer
  20. 1947Variety Girlas Cecil B. DeMille
  21. 1944The Story of Dr. Wassellas Voice of Narrator (uncredited) · Director · Producer
  22. 1942Reap the Wild Windas Prologue Speaker (voice) (uncredited) · Director · Producer
  23. 1942Star Spangled Rhythmas Cecil B. DeMille
  24. 1940North West Mounted Policeas Narrator (voice) (uncredited) · Director · Producer
  25. 1939Union PacificDirector · Producer
  26. 1938The BuccaneerDirector · Producer
  27. 1936The PlainsmanDirector · Producer
  28. 1935The CrusadesDirector
  29. 1934CleopatraProducer · Director
  30. 1934Four Frightened PeopleDirector · Producer
  31. 1932The Sign of the CrossDirector · Producer
  32. 1931The Squaw ManDirector
  33. 1930Madam Satanas Radio Newscaster (voice) (uncredited) · Director · Producer
  34. 1930Free and Easyas Director Cecil B. DeMille (uncredited)
  35. 1929DynamiteDirector
  36. 1928The Godless GirlDirector · Producer
  37. 1927The King of KingsDirector · Producer
  38. 1927White GoldProducer
  39. 1926The Cruise of the Jasper BProducer
  40. 1923The Ten CommandmentsProducer · Director
  41. 1922ManslaughterDirector
  42. 1921The Affairs of AnatolDirector
  43. 1921Forbidden FruitDirector · Story · Producer
  44. 1920Something to Think AboutDirector · Producer
  45. 1920Why Change Your Wife?Director · Producer
  46. 1919Male and FemaleDirector · Producer
  47. 1919For Better, for WorseDirector
  48. 1919Don't Change Your HusbandDirector
  49. 1918Old Wives for NewDirector · Producer · Editor
  50. 1918The Whispering ChorusDirector
  51. 1917The Woman God ForgotDirector · Producer · Editor
  52. 1917The Little AmericanDirector · Writer · Producer · Editor
  53. 1917A Romance of the RedwoodsDirector · Writer · Producer · Editor
  54. 1916Joan the WomanDirector · Producer · Editor
  55. 1915The Golden ChanceDirector · Story · Producer · Editor
  56. 1915The CheatEditor · Director · Producer
  57. 1915CarmenDirector · Producer · Editor
  58. 1915The CaptiveDirector · Writer · Producer · Editor
  59. 1914The VirginianDirector · Editor
  60. 1914The Squaw Manas Faro Dealer · Producer · Director · Writer