Director Cecil B. DeMille epitomized the film epic and Holly-wood's "Golden Age." From the 1910s through the 1950s, he was able to anticipate public taste and gauge America's changing moods. He is best known for his spectacularly ambitious historical and biblical epics, including The Sign of the Cross, The Crusades, King of Kings, The Ten Commandments, Cleopatra, Unconquered, and The Greatest Show on Earth, but he also made domestic comedies such as The Affairs of Anatol. Originating the over-the-top reputation of Hollywood filmmakers, DeMille is famous for his huge crowd scenes, yet his films also clearly demonstrate his mastery as a storyteller. He avoided camera trickery and developed plots in a traditional manner that film audiences appreciated. In narrative skill and action, DeMille had few competitors.

Cecil B. DeMille

Cecil Blount DeMille was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, on August 12, 1881. His father was...