Cecil B. DeMille: December 1913 to December 1923

 --- but DeMille said “Let There Be Biblical Sex” and it was good.

The above line is from my article, "The Bible According to Hollywood", read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/05/the-bible-according-to-hollywood.html

Mention Producer - Director - Writer, Cecil Blount DeMille, and those familiar with his name, usually associate it with 1956's, "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS". Mainly, because, it is still being shown every Christmas on television, even as I write these words 68-years-later.

Below left, is Cecil B. DeMille, in a photo of the director at work, circa 1920, but my story starts 7-years earlier with a prologue. 

Cecil's parents were staying at a boarding house in Ashfield, Massachusetts, on summer vacation, when he was born on August 12, 1881, the second of three children. His father Henry Churchill DeMille, was an American playwright, English teacher at "Columbia College (Columbia University)", and a faculty member of the New York, "American Academy of Dramatic Arts".

His mother was Matilda Beatrice "Bebe" Samuel DeMille, a playwright, stage actress, screenplay writer, and would become one of the first owners of "Paramount Pictures".

Sadly, on February 10, 1893, at the age of 39, Henry Churchill DeMille passed away from pneumonia, and Beatrice converted her home in Pompton, New Jersey, into the "Henry DeMille Preparatory School for Girls".

In 1900, Cecil began his stage career in the theater company of Charles Frohman, below.

On August 16, 1902, Cecil married stage actress Constance Adams, below, she was 29, he was 21. The couple would stay married until his death, one-year-before hers, on January 21, 1959. Their one biological daughter, "Cecilia", was born on November 5, 1908. The couple would adopt three more children, Katherine Lester DeMille, who would become an actress and be married to actor Anthony Quinn from 1937 to 1965. Author Richard Blount DeMille, actually the illegitimate son of Cecil's brother William. Richard wouldn't learn the truth until he was 33-years-old, and Cecil's brother, William, had died. The DeMille's other adopted son was John Blount DeMille, but I could not locate any specific information about him.

Below, Cecil Blount DeMille, in 1904.

In 1907, his mother's school was loosing students, because one of her students had been Florence Evelyn Nesbit, an artist model, chorus girl, and actress known as Evelyn Nesbit. 

Evelyn had married railroad scion, Harry Kendall Thaw, an extremely obsessive and possessive man, with a history of mental illness going back to his childhood. 

At the time of her marriage to Harry Thaw, Evelyn was still having a continuous on again, off again, affair, that had started in 1900, when she was 16-years old, with American architect Stanford White.

On June 25, 1906, White was murdered by Thaw over his wife, Evelyn. "The Trial of the Century", took place on January 23, 1907, and parents started pulling their daughters out of Beatrice DeMille's preparatory school.

This forced Beatrice DeMille to close her school and file for bankruptcy. After which she established an actors agency,"The DeMille Play Company". Her son was struggling as both a playwright and actor during this period, and Beatrice hired Cecil for her company, by 1911, he was managing it. Also, what would completely change his life's direction, Beatrice, introduced her son to a young man named Jesse Lasky.

In 1913, Cecil, Jesse, their friend, Samuel Goldfish (who would later change his last name to "Goldwyn") came together to form a film company, the "Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company", with Cecil B. DeMille as "Director General (The Chief Executive of a Large Organization". After the start of their first film project, director, Oscar C. Apfel would join them.

Above, Samuel Goldwyn, and below, Oscar C. Apfel.

Cecil and Jesse wanted William Churchill DeMille, Cecil's older brother, mentioned above and seen below in 1904, to join the new film company. Not only did the future motion picture director and screenplay writer refuse to join with his brother and Lasky, but, according to biographer Simon Louvish, in his 2007, "Cecil B. DeMille: A Life in Art", in a letter, William told his young brother not:

"to throw away [his] future" when he was "born and raised in the finest traditions of the theater"

 

As to their first project, the group acquired the rights to Edwin Milton Royle's, 1905, popular western stage play, "The Squaw Man". For the leading role, the group hired actor, singer, and dancer Dustin Lancy Farnum.

On December 12, 1913, Cecil B. DeMille and his motion picture crew boarded, in New Orleans, a Southern Pacific train to Flagstaff, Arizona. Upon arriving in Flagstaff, DeMille felt it didn't have the proper look for a western. He had heard that, because of the California weather, many film companies were shooting in Los Angeles. His cast and crew boarded a second train for Los Angeles. Arriving, Cecil B. DeMille found out that everyone was shooting in a section of Los Angeles called Edendale, but he felt that the location was also wrong for his western. So, the "Director General", made another change of location for the shoot and the new film company was one of the first to make a motion picture in what actually would became Hollywood, California, and at the "Iverson Movie Ranch", in Chatsworth.

The following is from my article, "HOLLYWOOD: Segregated Housing, Motion Picture Studios and Movie Palaces" at:

Back in 1895 a farmer named Robert Northam had a citrus ranch. On it was a barn in which Northam kept horses, carriages and other farm equipment. That barn became the southeast corner of Selma and Vine Street. In 1904 the barn and some farm land was sold to Jacob Stern. In March 1913 the barn was sold, again, to L.L. Burns the founder of "Western Costume Company". Which is still the major supplier of rented costumes to the film and television industries. Stern and his partner Harry Revier would rent the barn out as a film location. While calling themselves the "Burns and Revier Studio and Laboratory". Today the company is located in North Hollywood.

In December of 1913 Cecil B. DeMille and producer Jesse Lasky leased the barn for $250 dollars a month and began production of DeMille's 1914 release, "The Squaw Man". Their company was called "Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company".

THE SQUAW MAN released on February 15, 1914

The executive producer, was the uncredited Jesse L. Lasky, the producer was the uncredited Cecil B. DeMille.

The credited presenter of the motion picture was Jesse  L. Lasky.

The writing credits indicate that the original play was written by Edwin Milton Royale. The play was picturizised (aka: screenplay) by Cecil B. DeMille, and Oscar Apfel. This was the first of three film versions, the last in 1931.

The motion picture was directed by Cecil B. DeMille and Oscar Apfel.

Dustin Farnum portrayed "Captain James Wynnegate - aka: - Jim Carston".   

Monroe Salisbury portrayed "Sir Henry - Earl of Kerhill".

Red Wing aka: Lilian St. Cyr (born on the Winnebago Reservation, in Nebraska) portrayed "Nat-U-Rich".

William Elmer portrayed "Cash Hawkins".

The Basic Screenplay:

The story starts in England and upper class cousins, "James Wynnegate" and "Sir Henry" are trustees for an orphan fund. "Sir Henry" places several bets on the derby and his horses lose. 

"Henry" next, embezzles the orphan fund to pay off his debts. However, "James" takes the blame for the missing money, crosses the Atlantic, and heads for Wyoming as "Jim Carlton". There he encounters local outlaw, "Cash Hawkins", who is bothering a Ute woman named "Nat-U-Rich", and "Jim" rescues her, making an enemy out of "Cash". 

"Nat-U-Rich" is the daughter of a Ute Chief and "Jim" is thanked my him.

"Cash Hawkins" wants revenge and goes to kill "Jim", but "Nat-U-Rich" follows and instead kills "Hawkins". 

Later, "Jim" has an accident in the mountains and is found by "Nat-U-Rich" and the two fall in love, marry, and have a son.

Across the Atlantic, his cousin, "Henry", while climbing in the Alps with an expedition, falls, and before dying reveals the truth about his embezzlement that "Jim" took the blame for and signs a written confession.

Before "Lady Diana, Countess of Kerhill", portrayed by Winifred Kingston, and others arrive in Wyoming with the news that "James" has been cleared of the theft. The local sheriff discovers the gun used to kill "Cash Hawkins" in "Jim" and "Nat-U-Rich's" cabin. To protect their son, he is temporarily sent away, but fearing the possibility of losing both her son and her freedom. "Nat-U-Rich" takes her own life and the movie ends with "Jim" and her father embracing "Nat-U-Rich's" body, after "Lady Diana" has arrived and met "Captain James Wynnegate's" son.

Jesse L. Lasky was booking movie theaters to show 1914's, "The Squaw Man", and at the same time promoting the next Cecil B. DeMille feature, and the company's next production, "Brewster's Millions".

Note: Although filming was taking place in "Hollywood", and its surrounding areas. The main office for the "Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company", was at, 220 West 48th Street, New York City. The public hadn't yet started to associate Southern California as the new center for motion picture industry, and not New York and New Jersey. That non-association went to the financial backers as well. So, a New York City business office was a necessity. 

1914's, "Brewster's Millions", was the first of seven screen versions of the 1902, George Barr McCutcheon novel. As of this writing, the last was made in 1985, starring comedian Richard Pryor. 

Returning to my article on the founding of "Hollywood":

Dustin Farnum portrayed "Captain James Wynnegate - aka: - Jim Carston".   

Monroe Salisbury portrayed "Sir Henry - Earl of Kerhill".

Red Wing aka: Lilian St. Cyr (born on the Winnebago Reservation, Nebraska) portrayed "Nat-U-Rich".

William Elmer portrayed "Cash Hawkins".

The Basic Screenplay:

The story starts in England and upper class cousins, "James Wynnegate" and "Sir Henry" are trustees for an orphan fund. "Sir Henry" places several bets on the derby and his horses lose. 

"Henry" now embezzles the orphan funds to pay off his debts. However, "James" takes the blame for the missing money, crosses the Atlantic, and heads for Wyoming as "Jim Carlton". There he encounters local outlaw, "Cash Hawkins", who is bothering a Ute woman named "Nat-U-Rich", and "Jim" rescues her, making an enemy out of "Cash". 

"Nat-U-Rich" is the daughter of a Ute Chief and "Jim" is thanked my him.

"Cash Hawkins" wants revenge and goes to kill "Jim", but "Nat-U-Rich" follows and instead kills "Hawkins". 

Later, "Jim" has an accident in the mountains and is found by "Nat-U-Rich" and the two fall in love, marry, and have a son.

While across the Atlantic, his cousin, "Henry" climbing in the Alps with an expedition, falls, and before dying reveals the truth about his embezzlement that "Jim" took the blame and signs a written confession.

Before "Lady Diana, Countess of Kerhill", portrayed by Winifred Kingston, and others arrive in Wyoming with the news that "James" has been cleared of the theft. The local sheriff discovers the gun used to kill "Cash Hawkins" in "Jim" and "Nat-U-Rich's" cabin. To protect their son, he is sent away, but fearing the possibility of losing both her son and her freedom. "Nat-U-Rich" takes her own life and the movie ends with "Jim" and her father embracing "Nat-U-Rich's" body, after "Lady Diana" has arrived and met "Captain James Wynnegate's" son.

Released on April 15, 1914, "Brewster's Millions" was the first of seven motion picture versions of author George Barr McCutcheon's, 1902 novel, actor and comedian Richard Pryor, starred in the 1985, seventh-version.

On May 11, 1914, Lasky and DeMille released their third production, the five-part, crime drama, "The Master Mind". Of note, the production supervisor was William Churchill DeMille, on his first motion picture. William's first feature film as a co-director with his brother, was "The Only Son", released June 15, 1914.

Back on May 8, 1914, "Paramount Pictures Corporation", formally known as "Progressive Pictures", was founded by Utah theater owner, William Wadsworth Hodkinson. 

On May 15, 1914, Hodkinson signed five-year distribution contracts with "Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company", and Adolph Zukor's, "Famous Players Company".

THE VIRGINIAN released September 7, 1914

The 1902 novel "The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains", written by Owen Wister, had been turned into a stage play written by Wister and Kirke La Shelle, it ran from January 5, 1904 to May 1904, at the "Manhattan Theatre", 103 West 33rd Street, in New York City.

The play was picturized by Cecil B. DeMille, who directed the feature film, his first solo venture. This was the first of six film versions through 2014, and a revised version, as a television series, starting in 1962.

The motion picture was presented by Jesse L. Lasky. There is no "Producer" in the credits, but Cecil B. DeMille is additionally listed as the "Director General". 

Dustin Farnum portrayed "The Virginian". He had originated the role in the stage play. In the following still, Farsnum seems to be dressed the same as in "The Squaw Man", except that his pistol and holster turns his character into one person you might not want to meet in a shoot out.

William Elmer portrayed "Trampas". No still appears available of him in this critical role.

Winifred Kingston portrayed "Molly Wood". 

Above, Dustin Farnum portraying "The Virginian", Windred Kingston portraying "Molly Wood", and the uncredited Monroe Salisbury portraying "Mr. Ogden".

Jack W. Johnston portrayed "Steve". There are no images identifying this actor either.

Three motion pictures followed and Cecil B. DeMille entered the semi-horror film genre.

THE GHOST BREAKER released December 7, 1914

The motion picture was produced by Jesse L. Lasky and Cecil B. DeMille.

Like many silent films, there was a play involved, and for this film it was from 1909. The play was written by Paul Dickey and Charles W. Goddard. The picturization was by Cecil B. DeMille, Oscar C. Apfel and James Montgomery. This was also the first of four versions, the second was in 1922, under this same title, but both versions are considered "Lost". In 1940, the story was slightly changed to a comedy, as was the title to, "The Ghost Breakers", starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard. Then that story was revised once more in 1953, as "Scared Stiff", starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

This film was directed by Cecil D. DeMile, and Oscar C. Apfel.

H. B. Warner portrayed "Warren Jarvis", who he had portrayed in the original stage production. H. B. Warner's future roles would include Cecil B. DeMille's, 1927, "King of Kings", portraying "Jesus - the Christ", director Frank Capra's, 1937 classic version of author James Hilton's, "Lost Horizon", the actor portrayed "Chang". 

While in director Billy Wilder's, 1950 classic, "Sunset Boulevard", H. B. Warner had the problem of portraying H. B. Warner.

Rita Stanwood portrayed "Princess Maria Theresa". Between this motion picture and her last in 1935, the actress had a total of four on-screen appearances. What else happened in her life I could not discover.

Theodore Roberts portrayed the "Prince of Aragon", above right. Between 1914 and 1929, Roberts appeared in 106-motion pictures. My reader will find Theodore Roberts in a major role in the last Cecil B. DeMille motion picture I will be mentioning in detail.

Betty Johnson portrayed the Princess's maid, "Carmencita". This was her second movie of only four through 1937. I could not locate any other information about Betty Johnson.

Jeanie Macpherson (Jeanne McPherson) portrayed "Juanita". Between 1908 and 1923, she appeared in 147-motion pictures. Actually born as Abbie Jean MacPherson, Macpherson was a silent screen actress, writer, and director, known for her collaborations with both David Wark "D. W." Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille. She was a founding member of the "Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences". According to Cecil's niece, Agnes DeMille, MacPherson was one of her uncle's three-mistresses.

John Burton (J. W. Burton) portrayed "Rusty". From 1913 into 1920, Burton appeared in 43-motion pictures. Otherwise, I cannot locate any information on the actor, except that he was born in 1853, and passed away in 1920.

John W. Johnston portrayed "Markham". Between 1911 and 1947, the actor appeared in 169-roles, but starting in 1932, they all became uncredited.

Richard L'Estrange (Dick La Strange) portrayed "Maximo, the ghost". 

Fred Montague portrayed "Gaspart, the ghost". 

The Basic Story:

Somewhere in Spain, "Princess Maria Theresa" is examining her jewels and drops a small casket, upon hitting the floor, a secret compartment to opens. Inside, is a very old piece of paper that describes a locket and has a drawn map to where it will be found. Could this be the way to the "Aragon" family's lost treasure? Unknown to the "Princess" is that earlier, her maid, "Carmencita", found and sold the locket to an American art dealer named "Gains". I could not find out the actor's name who portrayed the "Art Dealer".

"Carmencita" is stabbed by "Juanita", her jealous rival for the love of the same man. With "Carmencita's" dying breath, she confesses to the "Princess" and "Prince", what she had done. Now, the search for the locket begins. However, "Carlos, Duke de Alva", portrayed by Horace B. Carpenter, over heard the conversation about the necklace and wants it for himself.

Switch locations to a town in the South of the United States, no specific location is actually given, where a feud between two families has been going on for years. One is the family of "Jarvis", and the other of "Markham". Who murders "Warren Jarvis's" father and flees to New York.

"Warren" now heads for New York City after "Markham". Where the "Princess" has followed the trail of "Gains". The "Princess" finds "Gains" and learns he has sold the locket to "Markham". Who is staying at the same New York hotel, and she is able to get the locket from him. Meanwhile, "Warren Jarvis" finds and kills "Markham" in his hotel room and becomes pursued by the hotel detective. He bursts into the "Princesses" room, explains his predicament, and she hides him in her a large piece of her luggage. The "Princesses" luggage, including the piece with "Jarvis", is loaded on-board the ship going back to Spain. Before it leaves New York harbor, more detectives board and search the ship for "Jarvis", without success.

Before she left Spain, the Princess's father, "Don Luis", portrayed by Jode Mullally, and her brother, the "Prince", searched the castle. To frighten the royals, "Duke de Alva", had placed fake supernatural specters throughout the castle. Leading to "de Alva" being able to murder "Don Luis", and kidnap the "Prince".

"Warren Jarvis's" servant "Rusty" arrives on-board the ship to help get him off it. However, instead of going on-shore, "Jarvis" decides to help the "Princess", and the two take the ship back to Spain.

In Spain, the "Princess" is staying at an Inn close to the castle, and "Jarvis" and "Rusty" go to there. Black at the Inn, the "Duke de Alva", is able to steal the locket from the "Princess's" luggage without her knowledge. The "Duke" sends his henchmen to stop "Jarvis" from getting to the castle, but instead "de Alva" is shot by "Jarvis". Gaining entrance to the castle, "Warren" and "Rusty" are attacked by a ghost in armor, one of the "Duke's" henchman playing the role. The fake ghost meets his end by falling through a trap door.

While the above is going on, the "Prince" escapes captivity, takes "Warren's" horse that is tied outside the castle, and rides for the police. They arrive, and "Jarvis" exposes the "Duke de Alva" as the murderer of "Don Luis", and retrieves the locket.

The "Duke" attempts to flee, but falls to his death through another trap door. In the end, "Warren Jarvis" and "Princess Theresa" confess their love for each other.

THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST released on January 4, 1915

As far as the credits went, the movie was Produced, Co-Written, Directed, and Co-Edited by Cecil B. DeMille. 

As the above trade ad indicates, Jess L. Lasky was the presenter. 

David Belasco was a playwright and sometime partner. This was the second motion picture based upon one of his plays, directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The other was also a western, 1914's, "Rose of the Rancho". Below is a photo of Belasco in 1909. Among the stage careers launched by David Belasco are Mary Pickford, Barbara Stanwyck. and James O'Neil, the father of playwright Eugene O'Neil, and the model of the father in his son's 1956's, "Long Days Journey into Night".

The story has a "Sheriff Jack Rance", is after the bandit "Ramerrez", and finds him hiding in his "Girlfriend's" store. She talks the sheriff into playing a game of cards to settle "Ramerrez's" fate.

THE WARRENS OF VIRGINIA released February 15, 1915

The American Civil War drama, "The Warrens of Virginia" was presented by both Jesse L. Lasky and David Belasco.

However, the play was written by William Churchill DeMille and not Belasco. 

Cecil B. DeMille produced, directed, and edited this feature film. This was the first feature film to use specialized lighting techniques. According to Cecil DeMille's granddaughter, Cecilia DeMille Presley and Mark A. Vieira, in their 2014 work, "Cecil B. DeMille: The Art of Hollywood Epic". Her grandfather attempted to copy David Belasco's dramatic stage lighting techniques, but the preview audiences complained they couldn't see the faces of the actors from the shadows created by the artificial moonlight. Further, they stated the picture wasn't worth half of what it cost to see it. It was Samuel Goldwyn who came up with a creative idea to sell tickets. They would tell the critics and the audience that "The Warrens of Virginia" was the first motion picture in "Rembrandt Lighting", and the admission price was now doubled and the studio had sold out showings.

However, another American Civil War film opened one month later and strongly contributed to taking away Lasky, Belacsco, Goldwyn, and DeMille's box office. This was D.W. Griffith's, "The Birth of a Nation", on February 8, 1915, with a Los Angeles premiere.

The basic story of William C. DeMille's play, "The Warrens of Virginia", can also be found in Griffith's epic. 

"Agatha Warren", portrayed by Blanche Sweet, is in love with "Ned Burton", portrayed by House Peters. The Civil War starts and "Ned" leaves his Southern sweetheart and joins the Union Army. The story concentrates on the life of the "Warren Family" as the war progresses. "Ned" returns, and is captured, but is saved from death by "Agatha", who still has strong sympathies for the Confederate cause. 

Portraying "Agatha's" brother, "Arthur Warren", was Page Peters. Many sources claim that both House and Page were brothers, but cannot confirm this idea. It should be noted that House was born in Bristol, England, in 1880, and appeared in six British movies, before coming to the United States in 1914. While, Page was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1889, and started acting in 1913. In either actor's case, I could not locate anything about their parents.

THE UNAFRAID released on April 1, 1915

One again, Jesse L. Lasky is the film's presenter. As the above promo indicates, Cecil B. DeMille was still the Director General. For "The Unafraid", he was the Producer, Director, Editor, and had taken the novel by authoress, Eleanor M. Ingram and turned it into the story he would film.

Rita Jolivet portrayed "Delight Warren". Marguerite Lucile Jolivet was born on Staten Island, New York, started acting on stage, but was known as a British actress. Her total film career was 22-films, and then she disappeared from movies and the stage in 1927. On May 7, 1915, she was on the "RMS Lusitania" when it was sunk by a German submarine. On January 27, 1916, she married her second husband, Italian Count Giuseppe de Cippico, and became Countess de Cippico.

House Peters portrayed "Stefan Balsic".

Page Peters portrayed "Michael Balsic".

The Basic Story:

All the reviews I have found on the film state word for word the following from "IMDb": 

In Montegro, brothers Stefan and Michael kidnap American heiress Delight Warren. Stefan marries her so he can claim her wealth, but then they fall in love.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0006194/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_67_dr

Something seems missing in that description that I found being copied. However, on "Cecil B. DeMille.com", at: https://www.cecilbdemille.com/portfolio-item/the-unafraid/ I found :

When an American heiress is kidnapped during a trip to Montenegro, she finds sympathy for her captor.

An incident happened on the set of "The Captive", that is reflective, at the time of this writing, to an incident on the set of the western "Rust". The following link will take my reader, as of this writing, to an article about the trial of actor Alec Baldwin and a pistol that wasn't to have live rounds in it. 

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/13/entertainment/alec-baldwin-rust-trial-dismissed/index.html

The incident, again according to Simon Louvish, in his 2007, "Cecile B. DeMille: A Life in Art":

While filming The Captive in 1915, an extra, Bob Fleming, died on set when another extra failed to heed DeMille's orders to unload all guns for rehearsal. DeMille instructed the guilty man to leave town and would never reveal his name. Lasky and DeMille maintained the widow Fleming on the payroll; however, according to leading actor House Peters Sr., DeMille refused to stop production for the funeral of Fleming. Peters claimed that he encouraged the cast to attend the funeral with him anyway since DeMille would not be able to shoot the film without him

Above, House Peters and Blanche Sweet.

Five-years before "Famous Players - Lasky" produced "The Sheik", with Rudolph Valentino, there was:

THE ARAB released June 14, 1915

My reader should note the tag line:

Taken in the Heart of the Great Desert A Wonderful Arabian Drama

Actually, the sand dunes at Guadalupe, California, north of Los Angeles, in Santa Barbara County, substituted for the "Great Arabian Desert'.

Now familiar, Cecil B. DeMille produced, directed, and edited the motion picture. Along with adapting the play by actor Edgar Selwin.

Edgar Selwin portrayed "Jamil, the Arab", as he had done on stage.

Gertrude Robinson portrayed "Mary Hilbert". She started on-screen acting in 1908, her last film, of 186, was in 1925.

Horace B. Carpenter portrayed "The Sheik", below right, below left is Edgar Selwin, between them is William Elmer, billed as Billy Elmer portraying "Meshur".

The Basic Story:

"Jamil" robs a caravan and his father punishes him by taking away his prized stallion and giving it to the merchant he attacked. The merchant, in turn, sells the stallion to a Turkish general, who gives the horse to a Christian missionary named "Mary Hilbert". "Jamil" steals the stallion back, but starts to fall in love with the missionary. "Mary" and her father are attacked and captured, "Jamil" rescues both, as both "Mary" and "Jamil" fall deeper in love. However, "Jamil's" father dies and the Arab must decide to become the new leader of his people under their laws, or marry the woman he loves of a different religion.

Later that year and both praised and controversial was:

CARMEN released October 31, 1915

On March 3, 1875, French composer Georges Bizet's opera "Carmen", premiered at "Opera-Comique", Paris, France. 

Producer, Cecil B. DeMille, planned a musical filmed version of the opera, but discovered that the libretto was still copyrighted. So, he instructed his brother William DeMille to base the photoplay, directly upon the 1845 novel, "Carmen", by French author, Prosper Merimee, that Bizet based his own opera upon. The story was about gypsy dancer, "Carmen", who wants to help her smuggler kinsmen. She seduces "Don Jose", an officer of the guard, leading him to be branded a traitor, for using violent crime to keep "Carmen" as his lover.

Next, DeMille instructed the composer, Hugo Riesenfeld, to base his music on Bizet's opera, as a way to get around the libretto itself.

Cecil DeMille co-edited the film with Ann Bauchens, the stills used for publicity were taken by William DeMille.

Geraldine Farrar portrayed "Carmen". Alice Geraldine Farrar was an American lyric soprano, who could sing dramatic roles in opera. She was popular with young girls, who were known as "Gerry-flappers". "Carmen" was the first of her 15-films through 1920. 

Wallace Reid portrayed "Don Jose". Reid started on-screen acting in 1910, but had first appeared on the legitimate stage at 4-years-old in 1895. When his on-screen acting career ended in 1922, Wallace Reid had portrayed 213-different-roles. As a movie director, during the same period, he directed 69-feature-films, and wrote 26.

Above, Wallace Reid and Geraldine Farrar

However, DeMille's choice of Geraldine Farrar was a controversial problem, because of comments she had made prior to and after the picture was released. This was at the start of the First World War and Farrar had many contacts in Europe through the opera. According to film historian Edward Wagenknechet's, 1962, "The Movies in the Age of Innocence", Farrar had made pro-German comments and briefly, the "British Commonwealth", that included Canada, were offended by them.

Political controversy aside, Cecil B. DeMille, Jesse L. Lasky, and "Paramount Pictures" had a major international hit on their hands. The website, "Motion Picture News" verified that fact:

https://archive.org/details/motionpicturenew12moti_1/page/n15/mode/2up?view=theater

The NEW-YORK TRIBUNE described it as "The most interesting example of the new art of the photoplay. Miss Farrar's personality is admirably suited to the screen, and her facial expression was excellent."

"Geraldine Farrar's 'Carmen' makes as dramatic an appeal to the eye as her voice ever did to the ear," said THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL & POST, "The resolution of Geraldine Farrar, the beautiful and gifted star, to employ her talents in the attaining of success in the films is one of the greatest steps in advancing the dignity of the motion pictures. Miss Farrar's 'Carmen' in the films is the greatest triumph the motion picture has yet achieved over the speaking stage."

From one controversy to another, both creating great publicity for the filmmaker. Cecil B. DeMille, now, found himself both praised by film critics and condemned by the Los Angeles Japanese American community.

THE CHEAT released December 13, 1915

Cecil B. DeMille produced, edited, and directed this motion picture.

The original story is credited to writer Hector Turnbull, but the scenario was also credited to Turnbull and  William C. DeMille. Both would co-write producer and director Cecil B. DeMille's next motion picture, 1916's, "Temptation".

There was another credited writer on the scenario, DeMille's current mistress, the previously mentioned Jeanie Macpherson.

Fannie Ward portrayed "Edith Hardy". She became a vaudeville actress starting out opposite Eddie Foy, and this was her second, not her first as many sites state, on-screen appearances out of twenty-seven.

Sessue Hayakawa portrayed "Hishuru Tori". He was born, using the English language version of the Japanese form, Hayakawa Kintarō. Kintaro under his film and stage name of Sessue, became the first Asian actor to become a major "Hollywood" and European film star. Among his films is the excellent 1931, "Daughter of the Dragon", starring the first Asian woman star, Anna May Wong, their co-star was Swedish born actor, Warner Oland, portraying her father, the insidious Chinese "Dr. Fu Manchu". In 1957, Sessue Hayakawa portrayed the Japanese prison commander, "Colonel Saito", in British director David Lean's, "The Bridge on the River Kwai", and was the "Pirate Leader", in Walt Disney's, 1960, "Swiss Family Robinson", among his other roles.

The controversy for Cecil B. DeMille and Jesse L. Lasky came from the idea of showing Japanese Ivory Merchant, "Hishuru Tori",  as a "Sinister" personage. The still largest Japanese-English Newspaper in the United States, located in Los Angeles, The Rafu Shimpo (羅府新報, Rafu Shinpō) attacked "Paramount Pictures" over the characterization. The newspapers power was shown with the 1918, re-release of "The Cheat". 

The title cards used for Sessue Hayakawa had changed his name and occupation. He was now, "Haha Arakau", a "Burmese Ivory King", the reasoning being there were not a lot of people from Burma in the United States to complain.

Jack Dean portrayed stock broker, "Richard Hardy".

Above left to right, Jack Dean, Fannie Ward, and Sessue Hayakawa.

The Basic Story:

"Edith Hardy" is a vain, and spoiled society woman married to a stock broker who normally gives her want she wants. However, her husband, "Richard", has tied all his money in stocks and is waiting for them to go up in value to sell. "Edith" can't wait, embezzles $10,000, and gets involved with a foreign ivory merchant. All leading to murder and a trial.

At the time of this writing, the following link will take my reader to the 1918, version of Cecil B. DeMiles, "The Cheat";

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2LEW__ig2Y

Cecil B. DeMille decided to film the second motion picture version of John Fox, Jr.'s, 1908 novel, "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine". The novel had originally been turned into a play in 1902 by Eugene Walter. The first film version was in 1914, written by John Fox, Jr., this version was written for the screen by Cecil B. DeMille. It starred the original stage play actress, Charlotte Walker, in her fourth on-screen appearance and was released on February 13, 1916.

Above, Thomas Meighan as "revenue agent","Jack Hale", sent to the "Blue Ridge Mountains" to track down moonshiners and falls in love with Charlotte Walker as "June Tolliver". Who is the daughter of one of the two men "Hale" is after.

On July 19, 1916, Adolph Zukor's "Famous Players Film Company", merged with "Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company", to form "Famous Players - Lasky". 

 

Above, Adolph Zukor.

After three-hard-years of making motion pictures and creating a film company. Cecil B. DeMille wanted a place to relax far from "Hollywood". He purchased land in the Angeles National Forest for a ranch, his getaway, in the San Gabriel Mountains. However, his wife, Constance Adam DeMille, hated the idea. Which gave him a reason to have Jeanie Macpherson visit him between her writings.

On April 6, 1917, the United States, officially entered the First World War. Jesse L. Lasky organized a military company under the National Guard, called the "Home Guard", Cecil B. DeMille held the rank of "Captain". It would enlarge to a battalion with volunteers from other movie studios. 

Eight more movies, would take Cecil B. DeMille to a 1917 motion picture and his second mistress.

THE WOMEN GOD FORGOT released on October 28, 1917

Produced, directed, and edited by Cecil B. DeMille.

This piece of historical fiction was written by Jeanie Macpherson and brother William Churchill DeMille.

Wallace Reid portrayed "Alvarado". He followed this feature with 1917's, "Nan of Music Mountain", co-directed by Cecil B. DeMille.

Raymond Hattan portrayed "Montezuma". Hattan would portray "Rusty Joslin", in "Republic Pictures" very popular "The Three Mesquiteers" "B" western series. Hattan was seen in Episodes 23 through 31, opposite John Wayne, Duncan Renaldo, and Bob Livingston. My article is "An Overview 'THE THREE MESQUITEERS': A Classic 'B' Western Series" riding and roping at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/search?q=The+Three+Mesquiteers

Hobart Bosworth portrayed "Cortez". 

Geraldine Farrar portrayed "Tecza, Montezuma's daughter". On December 25, 1916, Cecil B. DeMille released his first true historical drama, and Geraldine Farrar had portrayed "Joan of Arc", in "Joan the Woman". 

Julia Faye portrayed "Tecza's handmaiden". This was her twelfth on-screen appearance and her first of over thirty Cecil B. DeMille feature films out of 106-roles.  Faye would become DeMille's second mistress.

According to the "Exhibitors Herald", November 3, 1917, this historical drama breaks down to:

Moctezuma (Hatton), the Aztec king, resents the intrusion of the Spanish who have come to convert the Aztecs to Christianity. But Tecza (Farrar), daughter of the king, loves Alvarado (Reid), one of the Spanish captains, and she allows the Spanish soldiers to enter the palace. After a terrific battle, she is the only surviving Aztec and the Spanish allow her to depart in peace. Alvarado then comes wooing the last of the Aztecs and wins her.

Cecil B. DeMille left historical dramas and returned to typical melodramas, and the occasional comedy. Then in late 1918, he decided to remake "The Squaw Man". Something he was advised not to do. However, the nay sayers were wrong and it did very good box office.

DeMille only made three movies in 1919, but the third was based upon a 1902 play by James Matthew "J. M." Barrie's, "The Admirable Crichton". Should his name confuse my reader, I recommend his 1904 play, "Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up".

MALE AND FEMALE released November 23, 1919

The movie scenario was written by Jeanie Macpherson.

The motion picture was produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille.

Gloria Swanson portrayed "Lady Mary Lasenby". Swanson had just been seen in DeMille's, 1919, "For Better, for Worse". She followed this motion picture with Cecile B. DeMille's, 1920, "Why Change Your Wife?"

Thomas Meighan portrayed "William Crichton - Lady Lasenby's Butler".

Lila Lee portrayed "Tweeny - Lady Lasebby's Scullery Maid". Lee followed this feature film with director William Churchill DeMille's, 1919, "Peg o' My Heart".

Above left to right, Gloria Swanson, Lila Lee, and Thomas Meighan.

The Basic Story:

The movie opens with the butler, "Crichton", wanting a relationship with British aristocrat, "Lady Mary Lasenby". Who looks down on him, because he is below her social status. While in the scullery, maid "Tweeny" is in love with "Crichton", but he doesn't notice her.

"Lady Lasenby" and her other high social status friends leave England on a cruise, but their yacht is  shipwreck on a deserted island. The aristocrat's don't know how to survive and butler, "Crichton", becomes their leader with even "Lady Lasenby" looking upon him in an entirely different light. In short, the lower class has become the upper class, and the upper the lower, on the island. As time passes it appears "Crichton" will get his wish as "Lady Lasenby" has fallen for him.

Just as "Mary" and "Crichton" are about to be married, the group is rescued and "The Admirable Crichton" decides not to marry "Mary" upon their return to England. Instead he finally realizes the one who truly loves him and asks "Tweeny". The film ends with the two leaving for the United States and a new life.

Cecil B. DeMille only made two motion pictures in 1920, and three in 1921, but purchased a yacht he named "The Seaward". Like his ranch, Constance wasn't into yachting, but between Jeanie and Julia, he appears to have had company. Constance had centered her life upon raising three children, which became four, with the adoption of Richard in 1922. 

That year, also brought to the five major motion picture companies, a means of controlling the censorship of their films. This was the founding of the "Motion Picture Association (MPA)". The industry had been facing uncontrolled censorship from different State and religious groups throughout the country. A movie could be kept intact in one State, have certain scenes slightly edited in a different State, or sequences completely removed in still another. The "MPA" was put under the control of retired Postmaster General Will H. Hays. Over time it would come to be called "The Hays Office", but that time was beyond this article.

Not considered one of Cecil B. DeMille's better films, but a target of Will Hays and the "MPA" was:

MANSLAUGHTER released September 24, 1922

This motion picture was based upon authoress Alice Duer Miller's, 1921, novel of the same name. Her 1933 novel, "Gowns By Roberta", would be turned into the Jerome Kern, 1935, musical, "Roberta", starring Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rodgers. Which was a far cry from this Cecil B. DeMille motion picture.

The scenario was written by Jeanie Macpherson.

The feature film is about a thrill seeking high society woman, "Lydia Thorne", portrayed by Leatrice Joy. "Lydia" has a reputation of acting before thinking. In one sequence, she dances with multiple men, while her fiancé sits at their table in a nightclub. 

One day while driving recklessly, "Lydia" becomes the cause for a high speed pursuit, and smashes her car into a motorcycle police officer, killing him. In court, it is her fiancé "Daniel J. O'Bannon", portrayed by Thomas Meighan, that is prosecuting her for manslaughter.

Actually the plot for "Manslaughter" is not what I want to bring to my reader's attention, but what this film is known for in relation to censorship. This was "The Roaring Twenties", and the film has an orgy sequence related to the story. That type of scene was starting to slowly appear on a very few films and would depict wild parties, but not like Cecil B. DeMille did.

Cecil B. DeMille went one-step farther, and had what is considered the first gay kiss between two-men

during the orgy scene. An act that brought the full force of Will Hays into action to have it removed, and DeMille into action over censorship. 

My reader, looking back, may be surprised over what was considered censorable in movies under "The Hays Office". My article is "CENSORSHIP: Protecting (?) America's Morality in Motion Pictures: 1923 - 1971" at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/06/censorship-protecting-americas-morality.html

Which brings me back to this article's opening lines and the story of:

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS released on December 4, 1923

Cecil B. DeMille believed Will Hays and the "Motion Picture Association" might be going too far. He met with Jesse L. Lasky and Adolph Zukor, and proposed an experiment to see if "Paramount Pictures" could get around the growing censorship movement that included the very powerful "Catholic Church".

DeMille's experiment was the result of a "Paramount Pictures" contest about what the next Cecil B. DeMille motion picture should be. The now forgotten winner was F. C. Nelson, from Lansing, Michigan. According to Robert S. Birchard's, "Cecil B. DeMille's Hollywood", "Chapter 45, The Ten Commandments", 

https://books.google.com/books?id=h8I1dEf7GqIC&pg=PT104#v=onepage&q&f=false

Nelson's submission started with:

You cannot break the Ten Commandments - they will break you!

DeMille liked the suggestion and turned it over to Jeanie Macpherson. After telling her what he wanted to accomplish. Her story is in two parts, a prologue, and a modern 1923 tale of two brothers. 

THE PROLOGUE:

Now Jeanie Macpherson's prologue switches to Egypt prior to the ninth plague.

The ninth plague is darkness upon Egypt, "Moses - The Lawgiver-Prologue", portrayed by Theodore Roberts,  goes to "Rameses - The Magnificent-Prologue", portrayed by Charles de Rochefort, to ask him to let the Children of Israel leave Egypt and is refused. 

The prologue now moves to the Pharaoh speaking of killing the first born of the Israelites to force them to continue their slavery for Egypt. Instead, "Moses" tells "Rameses" that he has spoken the Tenth Plague on Egypt, the death of the Egyptian's first born.

Above left to right, Julia Faye portraying "The Wife of Pharaoh - Prologue", Charles de Rochefort, Terrance "Pat" Moore portraying "Pharaoh's son - Prologue", and "Theodore Roberts".

The "Angel of Death" moves through Egypt as the Hebrew slaves celebrate the "First Passover". "Rameses" calls for "Moses", and holding his dead son, tells him to leave with the Hebrew slaves.

The following morning, "Moses" leads the Israelites into the desert (Again this was filmed at the sand dunes at Guadalupe, California). 

Meanwhile, "Pharoah, Rameses the Magnificent", comes out of his grief, orders his troops assembled, and goes after the Israelites.

The Israelites arrive at the "Red Sea" with the Pharaoh and his men closing in.

The Israelites are in panic being caught between the "Red Sea" and the Pharaoh and start to rebel against "Moses".

In amazement the Israelites watch the hand of God part the "Red Sea" and they start following "Moses" through it. 

"Rameses" leads his army into the parted sea, but as the last Israelites clears. "Moses" calls upon God and the sea closes around the Egyptian's bringing on their deaths. Except for "Rameses" who returns to his wife and palace a defeated man.

"Moses" takes the Israelites to the foot of the Holy Mount Sinai. They are to wait there, as he goes up the mountain to what appears to be a burning bush. A voice instructs "Moses" to cut into stone, God's "Ten Commandments".

"Moses" comes down  Mount Sinai with the "Ten Commandments". Only to find that the Israelites have turned to debauchery and worship a golden calf. 

In a fury, "Moses" destroys the "Ten Commandments", tossing the tablets to the ground. Next, an Israelite man and woman, who had been seducing each other, discovers the woman now has horrible looking sores on her hands, and they beg "Moses" for help. "Moses" calls on God, and a bolt of lightning destroys the "Golden Calf" and her scores disappear. As the Israelites return to their leader, "Moses", and their God.

With the "Prologue", Cecil B. DeMille and Jeanie Macpherson, had set-up his attack on Will Hayes, "The Motion Picture Association (MPA)", and the Catholic Church, over motion picture censorship.

Now came the second part of their attack.

THE MODERN STORY:

The audience meets two brothers:

Richard Dix portrayed "John McTavish". In six more years, Dix would rise to a major star, especially in Westerns. In 1931, he co-starred with Irene Dunne, in Edna Ferber's, "Cimarron". My article is "Edna Ferber and the Hollywood Interpretations: Featuring Elizabeth Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Katharine Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Ava Gardner, Jayne Wyman, Irene Dunne, Kathryn Grayson, Carolyn Jones and Ginger Rodgers" to be read at:

 http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/12/edna-ferber-and-hollywood.html  

Over his career, Richard Dix would play, "Wild Bill Hickok", "Wyatt Earp", and "Sam Houston", another real and fictional characters.

Rod La Rocque portrayed "Dan McTavish". His on-screen career totaled 107-varied-roles, between 1914 and 1941.

Edythe Chapman portrayed their mother, "Mrs. Martha McTavish". She began as a stage actress and in 1914, starting appearing in silent films.

Above left to right, Richard Dix, Edythe Chapman, Leatrice Joy portraying "Mary Leigh", and Rod La Rocque.

"Martha McTavish" is a believer in "Biblical inerrancy", the belief that the Bible is without fault and error in all its teachings. Both her sons live with her, but they will make different choices for their lives. 

"John". following his mother's teachings and the "Ten Commandments", becomes an honest carpenter, living off his meager earnings in his profession.

"Dan", an avowed atheist, is convinced that the "Ten Commandments" offer him nothing, and vows to break every one of them. "Martha" evicts "Dan" from his house and he is on his own. 

At a lunch wagon, the impoverished "Mary Leigh", when he's not looking, steals a bite of "Dan's" sandwich. He confronts "Mary", and she starts to run away with him chasing after her. "Mary" ends up at the "McTavish" home and "John" convinces his mother to take her in for the night. He also plays peacemaker, and invites his brother back into the house. There, "John" formally introduces "Mary" to his brother, but "Dan" is still faced with his strict Biblical mother. On Sunday, the Sabbath that "Martha" observes, she catches "Dan" and "Mary" dancing, and they're told to go. The two now run off together, as the story moves forward three-years, and "Dan" is now a corrupt building contractor.

Here, Cecil B. DeMille starts to follow "Dan" and "Mary", as they break every one of the "Ten Commandments". Which have their own title card explaining "The Commandment" the audience is seeing broken.

"Dan" is seen by the audience cheating on "Mary" with "Sally Lung - an Eurasian adulteress", portrayed by Nita Naldi.

"Dan" receives a contract to build a new massive cathedral, but pockets large amounts of money. He cuts the amount of cement to be used in the construction of the walls and becomes rich. "Dan" also puts "John" in charge of the construction, only as a means of getting gifts to his mother, that she would refuse knowing they came from him.

Thinking that her son has found his way, "Martha" joins "John" to visit "Dan" at the cathedral, but a wall collapses upon her.

"Martha's" dying words to "Dan", is that she spent to much time teaching fear of God, and not loving God.

Next, a muckraker tabloid threatens to expose "Dan", and his even more corrupt business partner. Who tells him to give the tabloid a $25,000 bribe. However, "Dan" is almost broke, doesn't have the money and starts to commit suicide, but his partner stops him. Not out of a sense of decency, but so that he doesn't take the fall on the cathedral by himself.

Next, "Dan" goes to "Sally Lung's" brothel, to take back the pearls he's given her. However, "Sally" refuses, and reveals that she entered the United States illegally from Molokai, the fifth largest Hawaiian Island, through a contraband jute shipment and as a result, she is infected with leprosy. Which means, "Dan" is also infected with the disease. In a rage, "Dan McTavish" murders "Sally Lung".

"Dan" decides to flee to Mexico and takes a motorboat he named "Defiance". However, he runs into rough seas and his body will be found among the wreckage on a rocky island.

"Mary" fearing she is also infected, stops by "John's" office to say good-bye. However, he takes her in, sits "Mary" down, and "John" starts reading to her from the "New Testament". The section is the story of how "Jesus" cured the lepers, that is now re-enacted on-screen by Cecil B. DeMille.

After the Bible verse reading ends. A light appears and shines upon "Mary's" perceived leprosy scars, and they disappear. The two have found each other once again.

As of this writing the following link will take my readers to the 1927, "The Ten Commandments" in a completely colorized version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-rmEWYZpa8

Jesse L. Lasky and Adolph Zukor were surprised by the reception of Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandment".  DeMille was also surprised that his experiment had succeeded beyond his own expectations. 

The "Catholic Church" called the motion picture the greatest morality play ever filmed to date. Will Hays congratulated DeMille on his bringing to life the Bible. 

Not one nano-second of film was censored when "The Ten Commandments" was released.

In short----

                ---- DeMille said “Let There Be Biblical Sex” and it was good.

1923's, "The Ten Commandments" was the first of what is called "Cecil B. DeMille's Biblical Trilogy".

On April 19, 1927, "The King of Kings", the second film in the trilogy, premiered in New York City. The opening and resurrection were filmed by director Cecil B. DeMille in two-strip Technicolor. The story was once again written by Jeanie Macpherson. It depicts the last weeks of the life of "Jesus - the Christ".

The Hollywood Trade Paper, "Variety", on March 14, 1928, had an article about a Tennessee theater owner that defied a State censorship board. The part acting to protect the morality of the citizens of Tennessee ordered the "King of Kings" cut by 900 feet. The two sections showed both the flagellation of Christ and his crucifixion. 

https://archive.org/details/variety90-1928-03/page/n67/mode/1up

The Tennessee theater owner had shown the motion picture as released and was arrested. What was not apparently a problem with that censor board was the fact that "Mary Magdalene", portrayed by Jacqueline Logan, is shown by DeMille, as a wild sexually active courtesan.

As of this writing, my reader can see the complete motion picture with the Technicolor opening and closing at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCllVm8Efe8

The final motion picture of the trilogy, "The Sign of the Cross", premiered in New York City on November 30, 1932. It was in sound and starred Fredric March, Claudette Colbert, and Charles Laughton, with a screenplay by Waldermar Young, and Sidney Buchman.

The story is set in "Emperor Nero's", portrayed by Laughton, Rome, and deals with the persecution of the Christians in the arena. The original release, was restored by "UCLA" at 125-minutes, and being pre-1934 Production Code, does contain total female nudity and the famous milk (?) bath scene of "Nero's" wife, "Empress Poppaea", portrayed by Colbert. Which any person with eyes can tell she is nude. There is no complete version on line, but outtakes mainly of the nude bathing scene.