Post by kims on Sept 14, 2023 1:20:27 GMT
Demille is rather reviled for trying to get members of the old Directors' guild to sign loyalty oaths and If I remember correctly using backdoor tactics to recall then prez, Joseph Mankiwitz (sorry I never get the spelling correct). But 20 years ago, I read that Eddy Robinson credited DeMille with saving his career after Eddy was graylisted. Every so often, I read about DeMille, because of that curious fact.
DeMille had a paramour for decades. That's his business, but I am amused by people who claim they are religious, but conveniently forget that pesky 7th amendment, which in many versions of the Bible do not mention a loophole. All versions are straightforward 'THOU SHALT NOT..." In fact Demille owned a ranch called Paradise-no wives allowed, females provided or bring your own non-wife date. (Darn that 7th commandment keeps disappearing from memory). Later I read a source stating that after the birth of daughter Cecilia, doctor told Mrs. DeMille she should not have more children, at which time, wife looked the other way as DeMille had the paramour for decades. DeMille took care of family business every morning and going to the studio about 11am. When his wife had dementia, every night he sat by her bed and read to her. Poignantly, when he died, daughter Cecilia read to her mother. One night Mrs. DeMille asked her daughter what happened to that nice baldheaded man who used to read to her.
Drat, it's hard for me to completely condemn the man if he saved Eddy's career and though unfaithful, still cared about his wife.
Robert Birchard wrote THE FILMS OF CECIL B. DEMILLE. It's full of facts and figures: names of actors and cast, costs grosses. It is not a biography of the man, but contains some biographical data. For instance, exteriors for THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956) were shot in Egypt before beginning interiors at Paramount. He had a heart attack during filming of the Exodus, was told to stay in bed for weeks, but the filming must go on-too much money already spent, contracts, commitments. He decides he must finish this film he has already been in pre-production for years. He prays, if his motives for making this film are pure, give him the strength to finish. 3 days later he is back directing.
Here's some interesting tidbits from the book if you are interested in film making history:
In 1914 exhibitors demand films be no more than 5 reels and no less than 4 reels. Less than 4 reels, patrons feel cheated. More than 5 reels, exhibitors can't get in enough showings a day for profit.
In the silent days, films changed twice a week, some places changed every day.
In silent days, film distributors booked specific states. Distribution deals had to be made for New England, the South, etc. And only about 40 prints were made of each film, meaning it could take 2-3 years before the film circuited throughout the country.
There was American foreground, which is shooting the actors from the knees up. French foreground was shooting the actors head to toe.
And there was a paragraph explaining in silent days, the Road show circuit vs. general release.
DeMille saved a print of almost every film he made, making him the director with most saved films of the silent era.
Every film is it's own chapter. You can read the book in any order. There's an index if you are looking for something specific. Because it isn't a biography and full of facts and figures, it can be dry reading. But you aren't missing continuity by skipping around and reading only the films you are interested.
It's a gem of a book to get capsule views of how films are made, financed, how distribution changed, background on those silent stars you didn't know were popular in their time, and moving into sound to widescreen, color.
DeMille had a paramour for decades. That's his business, but I am amused by people who claim they are religious, but conveniently forget that pesky 7th amendment, which in many versions of the Bible do not mention a loophole. All versions are straightforward 'THOU SHALT NOT..." In fact Demille owned a ranch called Paradise-no wives allowed, females provided or bring your own non-wife date. (Darn that 7th commandment keeps disappearing from memory). Later I read a source stating that after the birth of daughter Cecilia, doctor told Mrs. DeMille she should not have more children, at which time, wife looked the other way as DeMille had the paramour for decades. DeMille took care of family business every morning and going to the studio about 11am. When his wife had dementia, every night he sat by her bed and read to her. Poignantly, when he died, daughter Cecilia read to her mother. One night Mrs. DeMille asked her daughter what happened to that nice baldheaded man who used to read to her.
Drat, it's hard for me to completely condemn the man if he saved Eddy's career and though unfaithful, still cared about his wife.
Robert Birchard wrote THE FILMS OF CECIL B. DEMILLE. It's full of facts and figures: names of actors and cast, costs grosses. It is not a biography of the man, but contains some biographical data. For instance, exteriors for THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956) were shot in Egypt before beginning interiors at Paramount. He had a heart attack during filming of the Exodus, was told to stay in bed for weeks, but the filming must go on-too much money already spent, contracts, commitments. He decides he must finish this film he has already been in pre-production for years. He prays, if his motives for making this film are pure, give him the strength to finish. 3 days later he is back directing.
Here's some interesting tidbits from the book if you are interested in film making history:
In 1914 exhibitors demand films be no more than 5 reels and no less than 4 reels. Less than 4 reels, patrons feel cheated. More than 5 reels, exhibitors can't get in enough showings a day for profit.
In the silent days, films changed twice a week, some places changed every day.
In silent days, film distributors booked specific states. Distribution deals had to be made for New England, the South, etc. And only about 40 prints were made of each film, meaning it could take 2-3 years before the film circuited throughout the country.
There was American foreground, which is shooting the actors from the knees up. French foreground was shooting the actors head to toe.
And there was a paragraph explaining in silent days, the Road show circuit vs. general release.
DeMille saved a print of almost every film he made, making him the director with most saved films of the silent era.
Every film is it's own chapter. You can read the book in any order. There's an index if you are looking for something specific. Because it isn't a biography and full of facts and figures, it can be dry reading. But you aren't missing continuity by skipping around and reading only the films you are interested.
It's a gem of a book to get capsule views of how films are made, financed, how distribution changed, background on those silent stars you didn't know were popular in their time, and moving into sound to widescreen, color.
