Yes, Mr. DeMille

New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1959. 2nd Printing. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Second printing. Jacket edges lightly rubbed. 1959 Hard Cover. 319 pp. The life of the master showman, Cecil B. DeMille, is also the story of his spectacular moving pictures- The Sign of the Cross, The Ten Commandments, King of Kings, Samson and Delilah, The Greatest Show On Earth, etc. -- and covers many years of Hollywood history. This develops his legendary qualities, his exhibitionism, his terrorism as a director, his rampant individualism, his tremendous public following and box office success -- and the scorn of the critics, and it follows his career from the theatre (truncated) to early "flickers" and on through the talking pictures. As DeMille's "personal representative" since 1946, the author is able to present a day to day dossier of the "great man's" creation of his own stellar role, to review the skirmishes with actors, companies, newspapers, religious groups and leaders, to describe staff operations as well as DeMille demands, on -- and off -- the set; and rounds out a lively picture of one of moving pictures' great names. A flamboyant personality should be of interest to those concerned with cinema history and to those -- perhaps -- who made up the audience for his pictures. (Inventory #: 2320364)