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DeMille, Cecil B. (Cecil Blount), 1881-1959

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1881 - 1959

Biographical History

Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959) was an American motion picture producer and director, considered the archetype of the American film mogul. His 70 films reflect changing American tastes and values, and he was particularly noted for his multimillion-dollar spectacles.

Cecil B. DeMille was born on August 12, 1881 in Ashfield, Massachusetts to Henry Churchill de Mille and Matilda Beatrice Samuel de Mille. DeMille started acting on Broadway in 1900, and by 1913 he joined a film studio partnership which would eventually become Paramount Pictures. DeMille had a long and storied career as a filmmaker and directed several epic films, such as the Ten Commandments (1956). DeMille died on January 21, 1959, in Hollywood, California.

Citation:
His The Royal ...

LC data base, 10/11/85 (hdg.: DeMille, Cecil Blount, 1881-1959; usage: Cecil B. DeMille); LC manual auth. cd. (also shows usage: Cecil B. De Mille)

Wikipedia, Sept. 16, 2010 (Cecil Blount DeMille; b. Aug. 12, 1881 in Ashfield, Mass.; d. Jan. 21, 1959 in Hollywood, Calif.; American film director and producer)

Turner Classic Movies database, Oct. 7, 2010 (Cecil B. DeMille Productions; est. 1921; founded by Cecil B. DeMille)

Empire of dreams, 2010: p. 212 (Cecil B. DeMille Pictures Corporation; founded by Cecil B. DeMille)

Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:

Cecil B. DeMille Productions records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 6254
Scope and Contents

Collection includes corporate by-laws and minute books of Cecil B. DeMille Productions. Also includes correspondence with many of DeMille's associates, appraisals, tax records, and estate records of Cecil B. DeMille and Constance A. DeMille. Collection contains materials related to the production of various DeMille films, including Samson and Delilah, The Greatest Show on Earth, and The Ten Commandments (1956).

Dates: approximately 1932-1959
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Cecil B. DeMille Productions records

The Crusades script

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197227657092]
Identifier: MSS 5793
Scope and Contents

The Crusades, bound, annotated script, with film frames, dated 29 January 1935, in faded green binder with red felt cross and the name "Berenice" on the front cover.

Dates: 1935
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / The Crusades script

Cecil B. DeMille papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1400
Scope and Contents Personal and business papers generated by DeMille (1881-1959), his family, and his motion picture and other activities from 1863 to 1983 including correspondence, audio and videotape recordings, financial ledgers, and memorabilia. Also with the collection are more than 6,500 pieces of production-related art work, more than 37,869 motion picture still photographs, 275 volumes of scrapbooks (1919-1962), sound recordings, and video tapes of 36 motion pictures from DeMille's personal film...
Dates: 1863-1983
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Cecil B. DeMille papers

L. Tom Perry Special Collections digital audio tape with music from The Ten Commandments and interview with Cecil B. DeMille

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232564424]
Identifier: MSS 8941
Scope and Contents

Digital audio tape recording transferred from an older medium. Recording has 2-disc Ten Commandments soundtrack by Elmer Bernstein and an interview with Cecil B. DeMille on his return from Egypt in 1956.

Dates: 1956
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / L. Tom Perry Special Collections digital audio tape with music from The Ten Commandments and interview with Cecil B. DeMille

Dan Sayre Groesbeck collection

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232484003]
Identifier: MSS 2511
Abstract

Papers and photographs covering Groesbeck's life and art, covering the period 1899-2000.

Dates: 1899-2000
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Dan Sayre Groesbeck collection

Interviews on "The Buccaneer"

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8898
Abstract

Vinyl record of interviews on "The Buccaneer" and typed transcript of interviews.

Dates: Approximately 1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Interviews on "The Buccaneer"

Lisa Mitchell papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2149
Scope and Contents Collection consists of correspondence, reviews, film reels, press kits, and newspaper and magazine articles written by Mitchell. Also included are photographs, posters, and other materials regarding Merlene of the Movies and Divine Mercy, No Escape. Two prospecti on proposed books about Cecil B. DeMille and the 1956 motion picture The Ten Commandments are among the materials, along with musical programs from Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, and others. Also included are video tapes of Mitchell's...
Dates: 1955-1999
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Lisa Mitchell papers

Photoplay Productions documentary research

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 2995
Abstract

Videotapes and DVDs of interviews during the production of the documentaries Cecil B. DeMille: American Epicand I'm King Kong!.

Dates: 2000-2005
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Photoplay Productions documentary research

Signed script for North West Mounted Police

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232593100]
Identifier: MSS 8833
Abstract

Copy of script for North West Mounted Police (1940) signed by the director and top-billed cast members.

Dates: 1940
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Signed script for North West Mounted Police

Mark A. Vieira papers

 Collection — Carton 1: [Barcode: 31197232563251]
Identifier: MSS 8945
Scope and Contents

Contains research consisting of photocopies of newspaper articles, telegrams, magazine articles, internet resources, film still copies, interview transcripts, book excerpts, and correspondence used in the writing of Vieira's book on Cecil B. DeMille's work. Includes approximately 300 pages of the untitled publisher's manuscript of CeCil B. DeMille: The Art of the Hollywood Epic. Dated approximately 2010-2015.

Dates: approximately 2010-2015
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Mark A. Vieira papers

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