William DeMille

William Churchill deMille (July 25, 1878 – March 5, 1955), also spelled de Mille or De Mille, was an American screenwriter and film director from the silent film 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 Carolina on July 25 1878, to Henry Churchill de Mille, an actor and playwright from North Carolina, and Matilda Beatrice Samuel, who was also a play and screenwriter. His father was a Christian whilst his mother was born to a German-Jewish family in Liverpool but converted to her husband's faith.

William was the elder brother of Cecil B. DeMille, who altered the capitalization of his last name when he went to Hollywood, claiming that it fit better on marquees. (William continued to be known as "de Mille", and his daughter Agnes also 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 and William had two children, Agnes de Mille – named after a younger sister who died in childhood – who became a noted choreographer and Peggy George, who became an actress.

Professionally, their life was stable. In 1905, he became a successful Broadway playwright, following its development in 1904.

William wrote or co-wrote nine plays – one of them with Cecil – produced on Broadway between 1905 and 1913, and another two productions mounted in 1929 and 1936, the latter of which he produced and directed as well.

His first play, ''Strongheart'' was eventually released as a movie by his brother as ''Braveheart'' (1925). Two of William's works, '' The Warrens of Virginia'' (1907) and ''The Woman'' (1911) were produced by the flamboyant impresario David Belasco. The former featured future film star Mary Pickford and Cecil, both struggling actors playing minor roles."The Warrens of Virginia (1907)"
on the Internet Broadway Database; accessed December 29, 2017.

He wrote a number of vaudeville sketches including ''In 1999'', ''Food'', ''Poor Old Jim'', ''The Squealer'', ''The Martyrs'', and ''The Deceivers''.Powell, William S. (ed.
''Dictionary of North Carolina Biography'': Vol. 2, D-G
pg. 52 (1986); accessed December 29, 2017.

Cecil eventually moved to Hollywood, and William followed. His directorial debut was '' The Only Son'' (1914). He was one of the first investors in Neely Dickson's playhouse, the Hollywood Community Theatre, and many of his plays were produced there, featuring Hollywood stars.

Personal life

William C. deMille and Anna Angela George divorced in 1927.
One of the writers of '' Miss Lulu Bett'' was Clara Beranger, whom deMille married in 1929.

At about this time, he 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.

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 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.

Death

DeMille died on March 5, 1955, in Playa del Rey, California. He is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Partial filmography

* '' The House of Discord'' (1913) (author of play)
* '' The Only Son'' (1914)
* '' Rose of the Rancho'' (1914) (actor)
* ''Strongheart'' (1914) (play)
* ''Young Romance'' (1915) (author of play)
* ''The Goose Girl'' (1915) (screenwriter)
* '' The Woman'' (1915) (author of play)
* ''The Wild Goose Chase'' (1915) (story/screenwriter)
* ''Carmen'' (1915) (screenwriter)
* ''The Ragamuffin'' (1916)
* ''The Blacklist'' (1916)
* ''The Sowers'' (1916)
* '' The Clown'' (1916)
* '' Common Ground'' (1916)
* ''Anton the Terrible'' (1916)
* ''The Heir to the Hoorah'' (1916) (print and on-line), quoting deMille in (Rouben Mamoulian Collection (Library of Congress) First edition ) (Also catalogued at ; and (eBook)); and see
* '' Maria Rosa'' (1916) (screenwriter)
* ''Hashimura Togo'' (1917)
* '' The Ghost House'' (1917)
* ''The Secret Game'' (1917)
* '' The Widow's Might'' (1918)
* '' One More American'' (1918)
* ''The Honor of His House'' (1918)
* ''Mirandy Smiles'' (1918)
* ''The Mystery Girl'' (1918)
* '' For Better, for Worse'' (1919) (screenwriter)
* ''Peg o' My Heart'' (1919) (completed but never released due to legal matters)
* '' The Tree of Knowledge'' (1920)
* ''Jack Straw'' (1920)
* ''The Prince Chap'' (1920)
* ''Conrad in Quest of His Youth'' (1920)
* ''Why Change Your Wife?'' (1920) (screenwriter)
* '' Midsummer Madness'' (1921)
* '' What Every Woman Knows'' (1921)
* ''The Lost Romance'' (1921)
* '' After the Show'' (1921)
* '' Miss Lulu Bett'' (1921)
* ''Bought and Paid For'' (1922)
* ''A Trip to Paramountown'' (1922 short)
* ''Nice People

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