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Cecil B. DeMille

Directing Born Aug 12, 1881 Died Jan 21, 1959 Ashfield, États-Unis 235 credits

Biography

Cecil Blount DeMille was an American filmmaker born on August 12, 1881, in Ashfield, United States, and died on January 21, 1959. He was a director and producer of both the silent and sound eras, recognized as a founder of the Hollywood motion-picture industry, one of the most commercially successful producer-directors of his time, and an influential figure in film history. Between 1914 and 1956, he directed seventy feature films, with all but seven turning a profit. He became known for religious epics blending spectacle, sex, and narrative, including The King of Kings, Samson and Delilah, and the 1956 film The Ten Commandments. His notable works also include Cleopatra from 1934 and The Greatest Show on Earth from 1952.

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Career

Career overview

Cecil Blount DeMille was an American filmmaker born on August 12, 1881, in Ashfield, Massachusetts, and he passed away on January 21, 1959, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. He was known as a founder of the Hollywood motion-picture industry, a director and producer of both the silent and sound eras, 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, and all but seven were profitable. His known credits include 141 entries on The Movie Database.

DeMille became synonymous with religious epics, blending spectacle, sex, and spellbinding narratives to convey a message of faith. Among his notable works are The King of Kings, Samson and Delilah, and the 1956 film The Ten Commandments, which is also referred to in other sources as Desatero příběh. His other well-known films include Kleopatra from 1934 and Největší přehlídka na zemi from 1952, for which he received the Oscar for Best Picture. In the industry, DeMille created the image of the omnipotent director, wearing boots and a visored cap while holding a megaphone.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

The U.S. and the Holocaust
Indiana Jones: The Search for the Lost Golden Age
Yul Brynner, the MagnificentPatterns of Evidence: The Red Sea Miracle IIPatterns of Evidence: The Red Sea Miracle
Hail Satan?Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic
The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille
Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
The Making of The Ten Commandments
The Casting Couch
All-Time Movie Greats
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Showbiz Ballyhoo
Hooray for Hollywood
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Spécial cinéma
The BuccaneerThe Buccaneer · ProducerThe Buccaneer · Executive Producer
The Buster Keaton Story
CinépanoramaThe Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments · DirectorThe Ten Commandments · Producer
The War of the Worlds · Executive Producer
This Is Your LifeThe Greatest Show on EarthThe Greatest Show on Earth · DirectorThe Greatest Show on Earth · ProducerSon of Paleface
What's My Line?Sunset Boulevard
Samson and DelilahSamson and Delilah · DirectorSamson and Delilah · Producer
The Ed Sullivan Show
UnconqueredUnconquered · DirectorUnconquered · ProducerVariety GirlJens Mons in America
Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary
The Story of Dr. WassellThe Story of Dr. Wassell · DirectorThe Story of Dr. Wassell · Producer
Reap the Wild WindReap the Wild Wind · DirectorReap the Wild Wind · ProducerStar Spangled RhythmScreen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
North West Mounted PoliceNorth West Mounted Police · DirectorNorth West Mounted Police · Producer
Union Pacific · DirectorUnion Pacific · ProducerLand of Liberty · EditorThe Movies March On

Full filmography

  • The U.S. and the Holocaust (2022) as Self (archive footage)
  • Indiana Jones: The Search for the Lost Golden Age (2021) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  • Yul Brynner, the Magnificent (2020) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  • Patterns of Evidence: The Red Sea Miracle II (2020) as Self
  • Patterns of Evidence: The Red Sea Miracle (2020) as Self (archive footage)
  • Hail Satan? (2019) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  • Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic (2019) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  • The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille (2016) as Self
  • Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe (2012) as Self (archive footage)
  • Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema (2007) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Making of The Ten Commandments (2003) as Self
  • The Casting Couch (1995)
  • All-Time Movie Greats (1988) as Self (archive footage)
  • Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984) as Self (archive footage)
  • Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Showbiz Ballyhoo (1982) as Self (archive footage)
  • Hooray for Hollywood (1976) as Self (archive footage)
  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) as Self (archive footage)
  • Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Buccaneer (1958) as Presenter of Prologue
  • The Buccaneer (1958) Producer
  • The Buccaneer (1958) Executive Producer
  • The Buster Keaton Story (1957) as Cecil B. DeMille (uncredited)
  • Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
  • The Ten Commandments (1956) as Narrator (uncredited)
  • The Ten Commandments (1956) Director
  • The Ten Commandments (1956) Producer
  • The War of the Worlds (1953) Executive Producer
  • This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
  • The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
  • The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) Director
  • The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) Producer
  • Son of Paleface (1952) as Photographer (uncredited)
  • The Fallbrook Story (1952) as Self, Introduction
  • What's My Line? (1950) as Self
  • Sunset Boulevard (1950) as Cecil B. DeMille
  • Samson and Delilah (1949) as Narrator (uncredited)
  • Samson and Delilah (1949) Director
  • Samson and Delilah (1949) Producer
  • The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
  • Unconquered (1947) as Self - Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
  • Unconquered (1947) Director
  • Unconquered (1947) Producer
  • Variety Girl (1947) as Cecil B. DeMille
  • Jens Mons in America (1947) as Self (uncredited)
  • Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary (1945) as Self
  • The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944) as Voice of Narrator (uncredited)
  • The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944) Director
  • The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944) Producer
  • Reap the Wild Wind (1942) as Prologue Speaker (voice) (uncredited)
  • Reap the Wild Wind (1942) Director
  • Reap the Wild Wind (1942) Producer
  • Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) as Cecil B. DeMille
  • Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) (1942) as Self
  • North West Mounted Police (1940) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
  • North West Mounted Police (1940) Director
  • North West Mounted Police (1940) Producer
  • Union Pacific (1939) Director
  • Union Pacific (1939) Producer
  • Land of Liberty (1939) Editor
  • The Movies March On (1939) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Buccaneer (1938) Director
  • The Buccaneer (1938) Producer
  • The Plainsman (1936) Director
  • The Plainsman (1936) Producer
  • The Crusades (1935) Director
  • Hollywood Extra Girl (1935) as Cecil B. DeMille
  • Cleopatra (1934) Producer
  • Cleopatra (1934) Director
  • Four Frightened People (1934) Director
  • Four Frightened People (1934) Producer
  • The Hollywood You Never See (1934) as Self
  • Hollywood on Parade No. B-5 (1933) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • This Day and Age (1933) Director
  • This Day and Age (1933) Producer
  • The Sign of the Cross (1932) Director
  • The Sign of the Cross (1932) Producer
  • The Squaw Man (1931) Director
  • Madam Satan (1930) as Radio Newscaster (voice) (uncredited)
  • Madam Satan (1930) Director
  • Madam Satan (1930) Producer
  • Free and Easy (1930) as Director Cecil B. DeMille (uncredited)
  • Estrellados (1930) as Self (Guest Appearance)
  • Dynamite (1929) Director
  • The Godless Girl (1928) Director
  • The Godless Girl (1928) Producer
  • Let 'Er Go Gallegher (1928) Executive Producer
  • The Circus: Premiere (1928) as Self
  • Vanity (1927) Producer
  • The King of Kings (1927) Director
  • The King of Kings (1927) Producer
  • Life in Hollywood (1927) as Self
  • The Fighting Eagle (1927) Producer
  • White Gold (1927) Producer
  • Life in Hollywood No. 1 (1927) as Self
  • The Angel of Broadway (1927) Producer
  • Red Dice (1926) Presenter
  • The Volga Boatman (1926) Director
  • The Volga Boatman (1926) Producer
  • Silence (1926) Producer
  • Whispering Smith (1926) Producer
  • The Cruise of the Jasper B (1926) Producer
  • The Dressmaker from Paris (1925) Supervising Producer
  • The Wedding Song (1925) Producer
  • The Road to Yesterday (1925) Director
  • The Golden Bed (1925) Director
  • Feet of Clay (1924) Director
  • Feet of Clay (1924) Producer
  • Triumph (1924) Producer
  • Triumph (1924) Director
  • Hollywood (1923) as Cecil B. DeMille
  • The Ten Commandments (1923) Producer
  • The Ten Commandments (1923) Director
  • Adam's Rib (1923) Director
  • Adam's Rib (1923) Producer
  • Manslaughter (1922) Director
  • Saturday Night (1922) Director
  • Saturday Night (1922) Producer
  • A Trip to Paramountown (1922) as Self
  • The Affairs of Anatol (1921) Director
  • Forbidden Fruit (1921) Director
  • Forbidden Fruit (1921) Story
  • Forbidden Fruit (1921) Producer
  • The Affairs of Anatol - Promo Reel (1921) as As himself
  • The Affairs of Anatol - Promo Reel (1921) Director
  • Fool's Paradise (1921) Director
  • Why Change Your Wife? (1920) Director
  • Why Change Your Wife? (1920) Producer
  • Something to Think About (1920) Director
  • Something to Think About (1920) Producer
  • Male and Female (1919) Director
  • Male and Female (1919) Producer
  • Don't Change Your Husband (1919) Director
  • For Better, for Worse (1919) Director
  • We Can't Have Everything (1918) Director
  • We Can't Have Everything (1918) Editor
  • Old Wives for New (1918) Director
  • Old Wives for New (1918) Producer
  • Old Wives for New (1918) Editor
  • The Squaw Man (1918) Director
  • The Whispering Chorus (1918) Director
  • Till I Come Back to You (1918) Director
  • Betty to the Rescue (1917) General Manager
  • A Romance of the Redwoods (1917) Director
  • A Romance of the Redwoods (1917) Writer
  • A Romance of the Redwoods (1917) Producer
  • A Romance of the Redwoods (1917) Editor
  • Nan of Music Mountain (1917) Director
  • The Little American (1917) Director
  • The Little American (1917) Writer
  • The Little American (1917) Producer
  • The Little American (1917) Editor
  • The Woman God Forgot (1917) Director
  • The Woman God Forgot (1917) Producer
  • The Woman God Forgot (1917) Editor
  • Lost and Won (1917) Producer
  • The Devil Stone (1917) Director
  • The Dream Girl (1916) Director
  • Joan the Woman (1916) Director
  • Joan the Woman (1916) Producer
  • Joan the Woman (1916) Editor
  • The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1916) Director
  • The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1916) Story
  • The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1916) Producer
  • The Love Mask (1916) Writer
  • The Heart of Nora Flynn (1916) Director
  • Maria Rosa (1916) Director
  • The Cheat (1915) Editor
  • The Cheat (1915) Director
  • The Cheat (1915) Producer
  • The Unafraid (1915) Director
  • The Unafraid (1915) Story
  • Carmen (1915) Director
  • Carmen (1915) Producer
  • Carmen (1915) Editor
  • The Captive (1915) Director
  • The Captive (1915) Writer
  • The Captive (1915) Producer
  • The Captive (1915) Editor
  • The Wild Goose Chase (1915) Director
  • The Girl of the Golden West (1915) Director
  • The Girl of the Golden West (1915) Producer
  • The Girl of the Golden West (1915) Writer
  • Kindling (1915) Director
  • Kindling (1915) Writer
  • Kindling (1915) Producer
  • Temptation (1915) Editor
  • Temptation (1915) Director
  • The Golden Chance (1915) Director
  • The Golden Chance (1915) Story
  • The Golden Chance (1915) Producer
  • The Golden Chance (1915) Editor
  • After Five (1915) Director
  • The Warrens of Virginia (1915) Director
  • The Warrens of Virginia (1915) Producer
  • Chimmie Fadden Out West (1915) Director
  • Chimmie Fadden Out West (1915) Writer
  • Chimmie Fadden Out West (1915) Producer
  • Chimmie Fadden Out West (1915) Editor
  • Chimmie Fadden (1915) Director
  • Chimmie Fadden (1915) Writer
  • Chimmie Fadden (1915) Producer
  • Chimmie Fadden (1915) Editor
  • The Arab (1915) Producer
  • The Arab (1915) Director
  • The Arab (1915) Writer
  • The Rose of the Rancho (1914) Editor
  • The Rose of the Rancho (1914) Director
  • The Rose of the Rancho (1914) Writer
  • The Only Son (1914) Director
  • The Ghost Breaker (1914) Director
  • The Ghost Breaker (1914) Writer
  • The Ghost Breaker (1914) Producer
  • The Circus Man (1914) Writer
  • The Virginian (1914) Director
  • The Virginian (1914) Editor
  • Brewster's Millions (1914) Director
  • Brewster's Millions (1914) Producer
  • The Call of the North (1914) Director
  • The Squaw Man (1914) as Faro Dealer
  • The Squaw Man (1914) Producer
  • The Squaw Man (1914) Director
  • The Squaw Man (1914) Writer
  • The Man on the Box (1914) Director
  • The Man From Home (1914) Director
  • The Man From Home (1914) Writer
  • The Man From Home (1914) Producer
  • The Man From Home (1914) Editor
  • The Master Mind (1914) Director
  • Ready Money (1914) Writer
  • Lord Chumley (1914) Theatre Play
  • What's His Name (1914) Director
  • What's His Name (1914) Producer
  • What's His Name (1914) Writer
  • What's His Name (1914) Editor