The 1920's had an array of American Filmmakers, each possessing perspicacious qualities,but only the innovative can capture the audience. Only perseverance, motivation, hardwork, and profound ideas can get one to be successful. American filmmaking should be a genuine dream that one truly enjoys, not by covetous people who crave adulation. The 1920's was not a period of ephemeral dreams but those who succeeded through their talents by originality.          

Cecil B. DeMille

Successful Hollywood Filmmaker 

                                                              "Most of us serve our ideals by fits and starts.

   The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily

and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication."

       Cecil, Agnes and William de Mille                                         Henry Churchill De Mille                          Matilda Beatrice Samuel de Mille

ADOLESCENCE

Cecil B. Demille was born on August 12, 1881 in Ashfield, Massachusetts. He was survived by his father, Henry Churchill de Mille and his mother, Matilda Beatrice Samuel de Mille. He used "de Mille" for his personal life and "DeMille" for his professional life. During the time Cecil was born, both his parents worked as teachers at John Lockwood academy in New York. Cecil had an older brother, William and a younger sister, Agnes who had passed away as an infant. Cecil spent most of his childhood in New Jersey, constantly moving into different houses. His father, Henry de Mille, read the bible to him and his brother every evening, one story from both the Old and New Testaments. When Cecil's father had died from tychus on February 1893, his mom started a school in her own home, Henry C. DeMille School. At 15, Cecil went to a military college in Chester, Pennsylvania where he endured a strict education along with morning drills and cold baths. 

     Cecil and his adopted daughter Katherine de Mille                                                       Cecil and his wife Constance.

   LIFEWORK

Cecil's mother established the De Mille play company, that would be used as an agency for plays and playwrights. On February 21, 1900, he made his debut as an actor, starring in "Hearts are trumps." While on tour, Cecil met Constance Adams, and married her on August 16, 1902. They had one biological child, Cecilia DeMille and adopted three other children, Katherine, Richard and John DeMille. Cecil helped his mother manage the agency while also being able to oversee shows, write and co-write new plays. He worked with Jesse L. Lasky and his brother-in-law, Samuel Goldfish. Together, they formed the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company and produced motion pictures of prominent plays with $20,000 to spend.

                          The Squaw Man Cast going on location.                                             Cecil DeMille used models to plan his film shoots.                               

After, their first successful play in 1914, "The Squaw Man", Cecil DeMille became in charge of productions including writing and directing his own pictures. Two years later, The Jesse L. Lasky Company collaborated with Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Films Company and Frank Garbutt's Bosworth, Inc. which created the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. While Cecil remained the overseer of the business, he concentrated on creating his own films by himself such as "Joan the Woman", based on the story Joan of Arc. In the early 1920's, Cecil released a collection of domestic social comedies that interested a wide range of people. These films satified his purpose in filmmaking and encouraged him to broaden his interests. In 1919, he established the Mercury Aviation which was the first commercial airline service. In 1923, Cecil did another film, "The Ten Commandments", and it resulted in another success.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXyEcMG5bDs

                                                                                          The Ten Commandments Trailer.

However, the film went over the budget and Cecil had to finance himself because his contract could not be renewed. His first motion picture, "Dynamite", showed his audience the techniques and talent he possessed for the industry. In 1936, Cecil became the host of the Lux Radio Theater. He stopped working for them after 9 years because there was a disagreement over a one dollar assessment for political activity. Cecil believed that he should not have to pay for a cause he did not stand by. In 1949, he received the Irving G. Thalberg Award for lifetime achievement from the Academy of Motion Pictures. The Academy believed he had showed “thirty seven years of brilliant showmanship”. Then in 1953, Cecil's film, "Greatest Show on Earth" had won an oscar for best pictures. Cecil passed away on January 21, 1959. 

     Cecil B. DeMille is an example of The American Dream. He was able to incorporate his creativity and talent into his love for filmmaking. He had a total of 70 films, with only 6 that were  unsuccessful. However, he was always able to engage his audience and give them what they wanted. Cecil DeMille had people excited about his upcoming films. He had ideas that were original and remained strong throughout his career. His passion for filmmaking established the foundation for the industry. Whether he was making stories about American History or biblical based topics, his films remained the most successful and widely seen films.

Works Cited

"Cecil B. DeMille." Cecil B. DeMille. Ed. John Flynn. 2004. 5 May 2009 <http://www.cecilbdemille.com/photo4.html#>.

"Cecil B. DeMille." Cecil B. DeMille. 04 May 2009 <http://www.cecilbdemille.com/bio.html>.

"Cecile B. DeMille." Welcome to Silent Ladies & Gents. 05 May 2009 <http://silentgents.com/PDeMille.html>.

"DeMille, Cecil B. - Overview, Personal life, Career details, Chronology: cecil b. demille, Social and economic impact." Online 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica. 03 May 2009 <http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/6180/DeMille-Cecil-B.html>.

"YouTube - The Ten Commandments (1956) Trailer." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. 05 May 2009 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXyEcMG5bDs>.