William C. DeMille
Encyclopedia
Willam C. deMille was an American screenwriter
and film director
from the silent movie
era through the early 1930s. He was also a noted playwright prior to moving into film. Once he was established in film he specialized in adapting Broadway plays into silent films.
, to Henry Churchill deMille (1853–1893), an Episcopal lay minister and playwright from North Carolina
, and Matilda Beatrice Samuel (1853–1923), who was born to a Sephardic Jewish family in England but converted to her husband's faith. He was the elder brother of the versatile Cecil B. DeMille
, who altered the punctuation of his last name when he went to Hollywood, claiming that it fit better on marquees. (William continued to be known as "deMille," while his daughter Agnes chose "de Mille.") William received a bachelor's degree from Columbia University
followed by graduate studies at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, at schools in Germany, and a second stint at Columbia studying under Brander Matthews
.
In 1903, he married Anna Angela George, the daughter of notable economist Henry George
. Anna bore William two children, choreographer Agnes de Mille
(named after a younger sister who died in childhood) and actress Peggy George. Professionally, their life was stable. A successful Broadway playwright, William's works were regularly produced by the flamboyant impresario David Belasco
. One notable production, The Warrens of Virginia (1907) featured future film star Mary Pickford
and Cecil, both struggling actors playing minor roles. Cecil eventually moved to Hollywood and William followed suit. Though not as famous today as Cecil, he was one of the silent film era's most respected directors. And though most of his silents have been lost, 1921's Miss Lulu Bett shows a delicate touch in the telling of an impoverished spinster's misfortunes in a small town. One of the writers involved in the film was Clara Beranger
, whom deMille would marry in 1929.
At about this time, William also met Lorna Moon, an established New York author from Scotland, who also wrote sophisticated Hollywood comedies. In 1998, Richard de Mille, who had grown up in Cecil's household, revealed in the memoir My Secret Mother, Lorna Moon that William C. deMille was his father and screenwriter Moon his biological mother. Richard had been adopted by Cecil B. and Constance DeMille to avoid a family scandal. Apparently, William's wife never knew the truth of Richard's birth.
In addition to his filmmaking fame, William deMille was an early member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
. (His brother was a founding member.) With Douglas Fairbanks
, he co-hosted the 1st Academy Awards
in 1929, and he solely hosted the 2nd Academy Awards
the following year. He also served as President of the Academy briefly. DeMille helped found the USC Film School
in 1929, and after his East Coast theatrical career failed to revive in the early 1930s, he was active on the faculty there until his death.
DeMille died in 1955 while living in Playa del Rey, California and was interred in the Hollywood Cemetery
.
Now Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
from the silent movie
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
era through the early 1930s. He was also a noted playwright prior to moving into film. Once he was established in film he specialized in adapting Broadway plays into silent films.
Biography
DeMille was born in Washington, North CarolinaWashington, North Carolina
Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. The closest major city is Greenville, approximately 20 miles to the west....
, to Henry Churchill deMille (1853–1893), an Episcopal lay minister and playwright from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and Matilda Beatrice Samuel (1853–1923), who was born to a Sephardic Jewish family in England but converted to her husband's faith. He was the elder brother of the versatile Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies...
, who altered the punctuation of his last name when he went to Hollywood, claiming that it fit better on marquees. (William continued to be known as "deMille," while his daughter Agnes chose "de Mille.") William received a bachelor's degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
followed by graduate studies at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, at schools in Germany, and a second stint at Columbia studying under Brander Matthews
Brander Matthews
James Brander Matthews , was a U.S. writer and educator. Matthews was the first U.S. professor of dramatic literature.-Biography:...
.
In 1903, he married Anna Angela George, the daughter of notable economist Henry George
Henry George
Henry George was an American writer, politician and political economist, who was the most influential proponent of the land value tax, also known as the "single tax" on land...
. Anna bore William two children, choreographer Agnes de Mille
Agnes de Mille
Agnes George de Mille was an American dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Agnes de Mille was born in New York City into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Her father William C. deMille and her uncle Cecil B. DeMille were both Hollywood directors...
(named after a younger sister who died in childhood) and actress Peggy George. Professionally, their life was stable. A successful Broadway playwright, William's works were regularly produced by the flamboyant impresario David Belasco
David Belasco
David Belasco was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director and playwright.-Biography:Born in San Francisco, California, where his Sephardic Jewish parents had moved from London, England, during the Gold Rush, he began working in a San Francisco theatre doing a variety of routine jobs,...
. One notable production, The Warrens of Virginia (1907) featured future film star Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
and Cecil, both struggling actors playing minor roles. Cecil eventually moved to Hollywood and William followed suit. Though not as famous today as Cecil, he was one of the silent film era's most respected directors. And though most of his silents have been lost, 1921's Miss Lulu Bett shows a delicate touch in the telling of an impoverished spinster's misfortunes in a small town. One of the writers involved in the film was Clara Beranger
Clara Beranger
Clara Berenger was an American screenwriter of the silent film era and a member of the original faculty of the USC School of Cinematic Arts.-Biography:...
, whom deMille would marry in 1929.
At about this time, William also met Lorna Moon, an established New York author from Scotland, who also wrote sophisticated Hollywood comedies. In 1998, Richard de Mille, who had grown up in Cecil's household, revealed in the memoir My Secret Mother, Lorna Moon that William C. deMille was his father and screenwriter Moon his biological mother. Richard had been adopted by Cecil B. and Constance DeMille to avoid a family scandal. Apparently, William's wife never knew the truth of Richard's birth.
In addition to his filmmaking fame, William deMille was an early member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
. (His brother was a founding member.) With Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. was an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films such as The Thief of Bagdad, Robin Hood, and The Mark of Zorro....
, he co-hosted the 1st Academy Awards
1st Academy Awards
The 1st Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 1927 and 1928 and took place on May 16, 1929, at a private dinner held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, in Los Angeles, California. AMPAS president Douglas Fairbanks hosted the...
in 1929, and he solely hosted the 2nd Academy Awards
2nd Academy Awards
The 2nd Academy Awards were presented on April 3, 1930 at an awards banquet in the Cocoanut Grove of The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, and broadcast live on the radio...
the following year. He also served as President of the Academy briefly. DeMille helped found the USC Film School
USC School of Cinematic Arts
The USC School of Cinematic Arts, until 2006 named the School of Cinema-Television , is a film school within the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. It is the oldest and largest such school in the United States, established in 1929 as a joint venture with the Academy of...
in 1929, and after his East Coast theatrical career failed to revive in the early 1930s, he was active on the faculty there until his death.
DeMille died in 1955 while living in Playa del Rey, California and was interred in the Hollywood Cemetery
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, originally called Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles, California. It is located at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood...
.
Now Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Selected Filmography
- Rose of the RanchoRose of the RanchoRose of the Rancho is a 1914 Western film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The film cost $16,988 to make, and grossed $87,028.-Plot:Esra Kincaid takes land by force and, having taken the Espinoza land, his sights are set on the Castro rancho...
(1914) (*actor) - Young RomanceYoung Romance (1915 film)Young Romance is a 1915 silent film romance produced by Jesse Lasky and released by Paramount Pictures. It is based on a play, Young Romance, by William C. deMille and was directed by George Melford. Edith Taliaferro, who made only three films in her career, stars in the film and it's the only one...
(1915) (*author of play) - The Wild Goose ChaseThe Wild Goose Chase (film)The Wild Goose Chase is a 1915 comedy-drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Ina Claire - Betty Wright* Lucien Littlefield - The 'grind'* Helen Marlborough - Mrs. Wright* Raymond Hatton - Mr. Wright...
(1915) (*story/screen writer) - CarmenCarmen (1915 Cecil B. DeMille film)Carmen is a 1915 silent drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It is based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée. The existing versions of this film appear to be from the 1918, re-edited release.-Plot:...
(1915) (*screen writer) - Maria RosaMaria RosaMaria Rosa is a 1916 silent drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It was based on a 1914 Broadway stage play Maria Rosa by Angel Guimera...
(1916) (*screen writer) - For Better, for Worse (1919) (*screen writer)
- Jack StrawJack Straw (1920 film)Jack Straw is a 1920 silent film comedy produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. William C. deMille directed the film and Robert Warwick and Carroll McComas star. The film is based on a 1908 stage play by W. Somerset Maugham starring John Drew and a young Mary Boland...
(1920) - Conrad in Quest of His YouthConrad in Quest of His YouthConrad in Quest of His Youth is a 1920 silent film dramedy directed by William C. deMille and starring Thomas Meighan. The film is based on a novel Conrad in Quest of His Youth by Leonard Merrick adapted and written for the screen by Olga Printzlau. This film survives at the Library of Congress...
(1920) - Why Change Your Wife?Why Change Your Wife?-Plot:Frumpy wife Beth devotes herself to bettering her husband's mind and expanding his appreciation for the finer things in life, such as classical music. When he goes shopping at a lingerie store to buy some sexier clothes for her, he meets Sally, the shop girl. Rejected by his wife for a night...
(1920) (*screen writer) - What Every Woman KnowsWhat Every Woman Knows (1921 film)What Every Woman Knows is a 1921 silent film comedy-drama adapted form the play by Sir James Barrie. A play had premiered on Broadway in 1908 and was a hit starring Maude Adams. A silent film version had been made in 1917 and a later talkie would be produced in 1934 with Helen Hayes. This silent...
(1921) - Miss Lulu BettMiss Lulu Bett (film)Miss Lulu Bett is a 1921 silent film based on the novel of the same name by Zona Gale. The screenplay was written by Clara Beranger, and the film was directed by William C...
(1921) - Bought and Paid ForBought and Paid ForBought and Paid For is a 1922 silent film drama produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. William C. deMille directed and Agnes Ayres is the starring actress. It is based on a play by George Broadhurst performed on Broadway in 1911 with Julia Dean and revived 1921...
(1922) - Nice People (1922)
- ClarenceClarence (1922 film)Clarence is a silent comedy drama, based on a play by Booth Tarkington, produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed through Paramount Pictures. It was directed by William C. deMille and starred Wallace Reid in his penultimate screen appearance. The play starred Alfred Lunt, in Reid's part,...
(1922) - GrumpyGrumpy (1923 film)Grumpy is a 1923 silent film drama distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is based on a 1913 Broadway play Grumpy by Horace Hodges and Thomas Wigney Percyval and starred English actor Cyril Maude. The director of this film is William C. deMille, brother of Cecil, and the star is Theodore Roberts...
(1923) - IceboundIcebound (1924 film)Icebound is a silent film drama produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, directed by William C. deMille, and based on a 1923 Pulitzer Prize Broadway produced play of the same name by Owen Davis...
(1924) - ClassmatesClassmates (1924 film)Classmates is a silent drama film starring Richard Barthelmess, produced by his company Inspiration Pictures, and distributed by Associated First National Pictures....
(1924)(*author of 1907 play)