Cecil B. DeMille

3 6.3

An American film director and producer who made large, dramatic epic movies

proper noun
/ˈsiːsəl biː dɪˈmɪl/

: Cecil B. DeMille

The legacy of Cecil B. DeMille continues to influence modern filmmakers who strive to create epic narratives.

Examples

Cecil B. DeMille directed many iconic films, including "The Ten Commandments," showcasing his talent for epic storytelling.
D.W. Griffith, Cecil B. DeMille and Max von Mayerling.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)
As a pioneering filmmaker, Cecil B. DeMille is celebrated for creating grand cinematic spectacles that captivated audiences.

Surface Forms

Cecil B. DeMille main

Morphology

Cecil + B. + DeMille

This is a personal proper name referring to a specific individual, not a compositional phrase. The constituent tokens ('Cecil', 'B.', 'DeMille') do not carry meanings that would allow a B1 learner to infer the referent's identity or profession, so the meaning cannot be derived from the parts.

Etymology

The filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille was famous for making very large, showy movies with huge sets, fancy costumes, and thousands of extras. That's why his name is linked to the idea of big, 'epic' films today.