He was Anthony Quinn's father in law.
Oh yes, he also is credited with making the first film for Paramount in 1914 called the Squaw Man. It was so popular it "put Hollywood on the map." He left actors free to develop their own characters and gave may unknown ones and down and out one breaks. From 1914 until his death, he made hit after hit, and money maker after money maker. Even his bad movies are interesting and fun. 'Nuff said.

CBD had the midas touch, from the 20's to the 50's he put out hit after hit. Though he wasn't so much of an artist as he was a showman, his moves made a ton of money. He helped make Hollywood the major center of filmaking.

DeMille was famous as a great showman who thought BIG!
Two of his movies of the 1950's, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH and THE TEN COMMANDMENTS were two of the highest grossing films of all-time until the 1980's. These two movies were so popular that audiences flocked to see them two and three times each.
http://www.secretoftheincas.co.uk

Let's be accurate. He was much in favor of "identifying" Communists (as most of the country was at the time). He was, also, the first director to break the "Blacklist" in his hiring practices (Eg., E. G. Robinson in 1954 for "The Ten C's"). And, as with everyone in positions of power, he had enemies (bitter) and friends (loyal). Similarly, like everyone (in "or" out of positions of power), he treated some people well and others badly but always with a purpose.

A pioneer (one of the founding fathers of Hollywood) and, within his own varied work, the blueprint (both good and bad) for every modern director that makes films for BIG audiences (from Spielberg to Cameron to the likes of Michael Bay).

1. He always made films that appealed to the public, like what Spielberg does today.
2. He basiclly set the first standards for the biblical or historical epic.
3. He was one the first men to be involved with Paramount Studios.
4. His reputation for his success.
5. His involvement with the blacklisting in the 40's.
6. His notoriety.

He was a giant in the history of film- not as talented as Chaplin but a pillar in the film hall of fame BUT as a STRONG proponent and supporter of BLACKLISTING, he wasn't a nice man-and he didn't treat people well.

To get to this page, you had to go to the page of Cecil B. DeMille's credits. How can you look at the volume of films he produced, directed and wrote, and then wonder why he's famous? Quite simply, he's one of the giants in cin238ema for decades.

Of course DeMille wasn't a Nazi. The poster suggesting it is, in all probability, a Leftist and DeMille's politics were decidedly to the Right. Leftists are congenitally disposed toward labeling the opposition "Nazis" (among other things).

Had no idea that DeMille was a Nazi since he was so patriotic and America, you may remember, was at war with the Nazis. Are you for real suggesting that DeMille was rooting for the Nazis to defeat America during World War 2?
Please, if you can (and you probably cannot) take a few moments and clarify your post. Thanks.

Some (but not all) evidence clearly suggests that he was a bit of a tyrant; however, he has his admirers, one of whom is myself. To say that his films are overblown and melodramatic is tantamount to denigrating the works and style of such great 17th and early 18th-century French painters as Nicolas Poussin and Jacques-Louis David not to mention the magnificent book illustrator, Gustave Dore, whose marvellously detailed engravings graced such works of literature as PARADISE LOST, DON QUIXOTE, and, of course, the Bible.
All these artists depicted figures in highly mannered poses very appropriate when depicting epic scenes. DeMille was greatly influenced by such artists (especially Dore), whose influence can be seen in many beautifully framed scenes in "The Ten Commandments." The subject matter of The Book of Exodus and the life of Moses in general is epic in scope, and thus deserves an epic treatment, for which DeMille was eminently capable. Sometimes subtlety is not appropriate.

People need to check the records, interviews, quotes, etc. of the actors who actually worked with him to find out if he was as "GREAT" a director as his publicists claimed. His politics weren't too hot either unless you're a fan of the German National Socialist Party.

Even Queen likes Cecil B. DeMille.

"We're the Cecil B. DeMille of rock and roll, always aiming to be bigger and better" - Freddie Mercury about the band Queen.

"I have come to Hollywood and am in touch with the three great American surrealists the Marx Brothers, Cecil B. DeMille and Walt Disney," - Salvador Dali 1937

"And he's a character in Sunset Blvd."
Or, slightly more accurately, that the last line, "I'm ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille", is familliar to nearly everyone, even if they can't remember where it's from.
Or not, depending on how you look at it

And he's a character in Sunset Blvd.

also, they parodied his name in the movie Cecil B. Demented

He is still famous and will be for a long time from now on because of his incredible talent and an everlasting impact on the cinema that he left. His films were not only stately but they were really powerful and most of them have stood the test of time. The most famous are THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1950s) and CLEOPATRA (1934).
DeMille was also the propagator of faith and he was, in fact, the first great director who has produced religious epics, including his KING OF KINGS (1927); TEN COMMANDMENTS (1924) AND REMAKE (1956), probably the most famous film about Moses till now; THE SIGN OF THE CROSS (1932) about Christianity spreading within the cruel reign of Nero (Charles Laughton); and CRUSADES (1935).
It is after DeMille that other directors made biblical and religious epics, including Franco Zeffirelli and recently Mel Gibson.
By the way, even Martin Scorsese referred to Cecil B DeMille in his latest AVIATOR (2004).
Cinema is a good way of escaping from problems and sorrows of the world.

[ "Shut up!" he explained.]
He make many pictures that make large monies.

He was the most successful filmmaker EVER - until Spielberg came along
Fantastic website all about DeMille:
http://www.cecilbdemille.com/

Here are some reasons:
He championed the switch from short to feature-length films and is often credited with making Hollywood the motion picture capital of the world. Rather than putting his money into known stars he emphasized production values.
He also developed stars, notably Gloria Swanson. He produced and directed 70 films and was involved in many more.
Many of his films were romantic sexual comedies (he is supposed to have believed that Americans were curious only about money and sex). His best-known were biblical epics: King of Kings, The Ten Commandments, The (1923) Crusades.
From 1936 to 1945 he hosted and directed the hour-long "Lux Radio Theatre", which brought the actors and stories of many movies to the airwaves and further established him as the symbol of Hollywood.
One of the 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)

Well, not only because of the amount of films he directed and produced (including The Ten Commandments and The Greatest Show on Earth), but because the lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes is named after him. The Cecil B. DeMille Award is given out every year to legendary actors, actresses, and directors.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."

Lux Radio Theatre was great. It had lots of famous actors, and since it wasn't visual (duh, it's radio) you NEEDED a good plot and good dialogue to be sucessful.
ONe of my favorite old-time radio programs (Suspense was my favorite).