About

Known credits:
213
Birthday:
1881-08-12
Place of birth:
Ashfield, Massachusetts, USA
Website:
Click here

Cecil B. DeMille

Overview

Cecil Blount DeMille was 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.

Known for

Acting
2021 Indiana Jones: The Search for the Lost Golden Age Actor Self - Filmmaker (archive footage) 59
Average
2020 Yul Brynner, the Magnificent Actor Self - Filmmaker (archive footage) 59
Average
2020 Patterns of Evidence: The Red Sea Miracle II Actor Self 59
Average
2020 Patterns of Evidence: The Red Sea Miracle Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2019 Hail Satan? Actor Self - Filmmaker (archive footage) 61
Fair
2019 Sword-and-Sandal Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2016 The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille Actor Self 58
Average
2014 And the Oscar Goes To... Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2007 Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1984 Going Hollywood: The '30s Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
1983 Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage Actor Self (archive footage) (uncredited) 59
Average
1975 Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1957 The Buster Keaton Story Actor Cecil B. DeMille 58
Average
1956 The Ten Commandments Actor Narrator (uncredited) 73
Good
1952 Son of Paleface Actor Photographer (uncredited) 59
Average
1952 The Greatest Show on Earth Actor Narrator (voice) (uncredited) 60
Fair
1952 The Fallbrook Story Actor Self, Introduction N/A
N/A
1950 Sunset Boulevard Actor Cecil B. DeMille 79
Good
1949 Samson and Delilah Actor Narrator (uncredited) 60
Fair
1947 Unconquered Actor Self - Narrator (voice) (uncredited) 59
Average
1947 Variety Girl Actor Cecil B. DeMille 59
Average
1947 Jens Mons in America Actor Self (uncredited) 58
Average
1945 Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary Actor Self N/A
N/A
1944 The Story of Dr. Wassell Actor Voice of Narrator (uncredited) 59
Average
1942 Reap the Wild Wind Actor Prologue Speaker (voice) (uncredited) 59
Average
1942 Star Spangled Rhythm Actor Cecil B. DeMille 59
Average
1942 Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) Actor Self N/A
N/A
1940 North West Mounted Police Actor Narrator (voice) (uncredited) 59
Average
1939 The Movies March On Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1935 Hollywood Extra Girl Actor Cecil B. DeMille 58
Average
1934 The Hollywood You Never See Actor Self N/A
N/A
1933 Hollywood on Parade No. B-5 Actor Self (archive footage) (uncredited) N/A
N/A
1930 Madam Satan Actor Radio Newscaster (voice) (uncredited) 59
Average
1930 Estrellados Actor Self (Guest Appearance) N/A
N/A
1930 Free and Easy Actor Director Cecil B. DeMille (uncredited) 59
Average
1928 The Circus: Premiere Actor Self 59
Average
1927 Life in Hollywood No. 1 Actor Self N/A
N/A
1923 Hollywood Actor Cecil B. DeMille 59
Average
1922 A Trip to Paramountown Actor Self 58
Average

Directing
1956 The Ten Commandments Directing Director 73
Good
1952 The Greatest Show on Earth Directing Director 60
Fair
1949 Samson and Delilah Directing Director 60
Fair
1947 Unconquered Directing Director 59
Average
1944 The Story of Dr. Wassell Directing Director 59
Average
1942 Reap the Wild Wind Directing Director 59
Average
1940 North West Mounted Police Directing Director 59
Average
1939 Union Pacific Directing Director 59
Average
1938 The Buccaneer Directing Director 59
Average
1936 The Plainsman Directing Director 59
Average
1935 The Crusades Directing Director 59
Average
1934 Cleopatra Directing Director 59
Average
1934 Four Frightened People Directing Director 59
Average
1933 This Day and Age Directing Director 58
Average
1932 The Sign of the Cross Directing Director 59
Average
1931 The Squaw Man Directing Director 58
Average
1930 Madam Satan Directing Director 59
Average
1929 Dynamite Directing Director 59
Average
1928 The Godless Girl Directing Director 59
Average
1927 The King of Kings Directing Director 59
Average
1926 The Volga Boatman Directing Director 59
Average
1925 The Road to Yesterday Directing Director 59
Average
1925 The Golden Bed Directing Director 58
Average
1924 Feet of Clay Directing Director N/A
N/A
1924 Triumph Directing Director N/A
N/A
1923 The Ten Commandments Directing Director 59
Average
1923 Adam's Rib Directing Director 58
Average
1922 Manslaughter Directing Director 58
Average
1922 Saturday Night Directing Director 58
Average
1921 Fool's Paradise Directing Director 58
Average
1921 The Affairs of Anatol Directing Director 59
Average
1921 Forbidden Fruit Directing Director 59
Average
1920 Something to Think About Directing Director 59
Average
1920 Why Change Your Wife? Directing Director 59
Average
1919 Male and Female Directing Director 59
Average
1919 For Better, for Worse Directing Director 59
Average
1919 Don't Change Your Husband Directing Director 59
Average
1918 The Squaw Man Directing Director 58
Average
1918 Till I Come Back to You Directing Director 58
Average
1918 We Can't Have Everything Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 Old Wives for New Directing Director 59
Average
1918 The Whispering Chorus Directing Director 59
Average
1917 The Devil Stone Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 Nan of Music Mountain Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 The Woman God Forgot Directing Director 58
Average
1917 The Little American Directing Director 59
Average
1917 A Romance of the Redwoods Directing Director 59
Average
1916 Joan the Woman Directing Director 58
Average
1916 The Dream Girl Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 Maria Rosa Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 The Heart of Nora Flynn Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Golden Chance Directing Director 59
Average
1915 Temptation Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Cheat Directing Director 59
Average
1915 Chimmie Fadden Out West Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 Carmen Directing Director 59
Average
1915 Kindling Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 Chimmie Fadden Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Arab Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Wild Goose Chase Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Captive Directing Director 59
Average
1915 The Unafraid Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Warrens of Virginia Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 After Five Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl of the Golden West Directing Director 58
Average
1914 The Ghost Breaker Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Rose of the Rancho Directing Director 58
Average
1914 The Man From Home Directing Director 58
Average
1914 What's His Name Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Virginian Directing Director 58
Average
1914 The Call of the North Directing Director 58
Average
1914 The Only Son Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 Brewster's Millions Directing Director 59
Average
1914 The Squaw Man Directing Director 59
Average

Writing
1921 Forbidden Fruit Writing Story 59
Average
1917 The Little American Writing Writer 59
Average
1917 A Romance of the Redwoods Writing Writer 59
Average
1916 The Love Mask Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1916 The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Writing Story N/A
N/A
1915 The Golden Chance Writing Story 59
Average
1915 Chimmie Fadden Out West Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1915 Kindling Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1915 Chimmie Fadden Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1915 The Arab Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1915 The Captive Writing Writer 59
Average
1915 The Unafraid Writing Story N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl of the Golden West Writing Writer 58
Average
1914 The Ghost Breaker Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1914 The Circus Man Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1914 The Rose of the Rancho Writing Writer 58
Average
1914 The Man From Home Writing Writer 58
Average
1914 Ready Money Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1914 What's His Name Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1914 Lord Chumley Writing Theatre Play 58
Average
1914 The Squaw Man Writing Writer 59
Average

Production
1958 The Buccaneer Production Executive Producer 59
Average
1958 The Buccaneer Production Producer 59
Average
1956 The Ten Commandments Production Producer 73
Good
1953 The War of the Worlds Production Executive Producer 63
Fair
1952 The Greatest Show on Earth Production Producer 60
Fair
1949 Samson and Delilah Production Producer 60
Fair
1947 Unconquered Production Producer 59
Average
1944 The Story of Dr. Wassell Production Producer 59
Average
1942 Reap the Wild Wind Production Producer 59
Average
1940 North West Mounted Police Production Producer 59
Average
1939 Union Pacific Production Producer 59
Average
1938 The Buccaneer Production Producer 59
Average
1936 The Plainsman Production Producer 59
Average
1934 Cleopatra Production Producer 59
Average
1934 Four Frightened People Production Producer 59
Average
1933 This Day and Age Production Producer 58
Average
1932 The Sign of the Cross Production Producer 59
Average
1930 Madam Satan Production Producer 59
Average
1928 The Godless Girl Production Producer 59
Average
1928 Let 'Er Go Gallegher Production Executive Producer 59
Average
1927 The Angel of Broadway Production Producer N/A
N/A
1927 The Fighting Eagle Production Producer 58
Average
1927 Vanity Production Producer N/A
N/A
1927 The King of Kings Production Producer 59
Average
1927 White Gold Production Producer 59
Average
1926 The Cruise of the Jasper B Production Producer 59
Average
1926 The Volga Boatman Production Producer 59
Average
1926 Silence Production Producer 59
Average
1926 Whispering Smith Production Producer N/A
N/A
1925 The Wedding Song Production Producer N/A
N/A
1925 The Dressmaker from Paris Production Supervising Producer N/A
N/A
1924 Triumph Production Producer N/A
N/A
1923 The Ten Commandments Production Producer 59
Average
1923 Adam's Rib Production Producer 58
Average
1921 Forbidden Fruit Production Producer 59
Average
1920 Something to Think About Production Producer 59
Average
1920 Why Change Your Wife? Production Producer 59
Average
1919 Male and Female Production Producer 59
Average
1918 Old Wives for New Production Producer 59
Average
1917 The Woman God Forgot Production Producer 58
Average
1917 The Little American Production Producer 59
Average
1917 A Romance of the Redwoods Production Producer 59
Average
1917 Lost and Won Production Producer 59
Average
1916 Joan the Woman Production Producer 58
Average
1916 The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Production Producer N/A
N/A
1915 The Golden Chance Production Producer 59
Average
1915 The Cheat Production Producer 59
Average
1915 Chimmie Fadden Out West Production Producer N/A
N/A
1915 Carmen Production Producer 59
Average
1915 Kindling Production Producer N/A
N/A
1915 Chimmie Fadden Production Producer N/A
N/A
1915 The Arab Production Producer N/A
N/A
1915 The Captive Production Producer 59
Average
1915 The Warrens of Virginia Production Producer N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl of the Golden West Production Producer 58
Average
1914 The Ghost Breaker Production Producer N/A
N/A
1914 The Man From Home Production Producer 58
Average
1914 What's His Name Production Producer N/A
N/A
1914 The Squaw Man Production Producer 59
Average

Crew
1926 Red Dice Crew Presenter N/A
N/A

Editing
1939 Land of Liberty Editing Editor N/A
N/A
1918 We Can't Have Everything Editing Editor N/A
N/A
1918 Old Wives for New Editing Editor 59
Average
1917 The Woman God Forgot Editing Editor 58
Average
1917 The Little American Editing Editor 59
Average
1917 A Romance of the Redwoods Editing Editor 59
Average
1916 Joan the Woman Editing Editor 58
Average
1915 The Golden Chance Editing Editor 59
Average
1915 Temptation Editing Editor N/A
N/A
1915 The Cheat Editing Editor 59
Average
1915 Chimmie Fadden Out West Editing Editor N/A
N/A
1915 Carmen Editing Editor 59
Average
1915 Chimmie Fadden Editing Editor N/A
N/A
1915 The Captive Editing Editor 59
Average
1914 The Rose of the Rancho Editing Editor 58
Average
1914 The Man From Home Editing Editor 58
Average
1914 What's His Name Editing Editor N/A
N/A
1914 The Virginian Editing Editor 58
Average