William C. de Mille
William Churchill de Mille ( born July 25, 1878 in Washington, North Carolina, † March 5, 1955 in Playa del Rey, California ) was an American playwright and director.
Biography
William C. de Mille was born in 1878 as son of Henry Churchill De Mille, a successful playwrights, and Matilda Beatrice Samuel. He first studied art at Columbia University before he completed a drama course at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After a two-year stay in Germany de Mille Dramatic Literature studied with Brander Matthews.
Published in 1905 with de Mille Strong Heart his first drama. A year later, he wrote the first time together with his younger brother Cecil B. DeMille a play ( The Genius ), followed in 1907, in collaboration with Margaret Turnbull the comedy Classmates. His breakthrough as a playwright achieved de Mille in 1907 with the comedy The Warrens of Virginia, which was staged by the theater producer David Belasco. His greatest success as a playwright celebrated de Mille in 1911 with the drama The Woman.
1914 was followed by his brother Cecil de Mille in the movie business. He first worked as a dramaturge and writer at Famous Players- Lasky, but soon took up the post of director. De Mille turned around 50 silent films for Famous Players - Lasky and Paramount Pictures, of which only a few have survived. William C. de Mille's films stood in the shadow of his brother Cecil B. DeMille, but were praised by film critics. De Mille specialized in literary adaptations, in which he was particularly interested in the psychological development of the characters. He laid emphasis on humor and human nuances, which he clearly differed from his brother's operatic style.
After introduction of sound to de Mille slowly withdrew from the film business, his last film in 1933 was the comedy His Double Life. De Mille attempted a comeback on Broadway, but he could not connect to its previous theater successes. He spent the following years as a lecturer at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, which he had co-founded in 1929.
William C. de Mille was one of the early members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was its president from 1929 to 1931 than before. Together with Douglas Fairbanks senior in 1929, he hosted the first Academy Awards ceremony and was the sole host of the second Oscar in 1930.
De Mille was 1903-1929 with Anna Angela George, the daughter of economist Henry George, married. They had two daughters: the later dancer Agnes de Mille and later actress Peggy George. 1929 married de Mille screenwriter Clara Beranger, with whom he remained married until his death in 1955.