--- 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.
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".
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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.
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.
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
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".
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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.
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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
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
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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.
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You cannot break the Ten Commandments - they will break you!
THE PROLOGUE:
Now Jeanie Macpherson's prologue switches to Egypt prior to the ninth plague.
