CECIL BLOUNT DE MILLE can credit his success in part in the motion picture
world to both heredity and environment, for both elements played an important
part in his early life. The son of Henry Churchill de Mille, partner and
collaborator of David Belasco, DeMille literally grew up in the atmosphere
of the theater. Although he was born in Asheville, Mass., forty-one years
ago, most of his early life was spent in New York.
His father wished him to follow a military career and Cecil DeMille accordingly
entered the Western Pennsylvania Military College. He deserted this in an
attempt to enter the Spanish-American War, but his youth was against him.
Subsequently he entered Franklin Sargent's American Academy of Dramatic
Arts, from which he graduated to the stage. His military college recently
conferred the honorary degree of master of arts on De Mille.
Beginning his career as an actor, the youthful DeMille soon turned to
stage direction and play writing. He is the author of "The Return of
Peter Grimm" and "The Royal Mounted." About twelve years
ago Cecil B. DeMille united with Jesse L. Lasky in the production of a series
of one-act plays. This partnership subsequently developed into the formation
of the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company-one of the parent organizations
of the present Famous Players-Lasky Corporation-and the entrance of both
Lasky and DeMille into motion picture work.
Coming to California in 1913, Cecil B. DeMille founded the present Lasky
studio and made his screen debut as the director of Dustin Farnum in "The
Squaw Man." Since that time he has produced many Paramount pictures,
such as "Manslaughter," "Fool's Paradise," "The
Affairs of Anatol," "Don't Change Your Husband," "Joan
the Woman" and "The Whispering Chorus." |