Cecil B. DeMille, Classical Hollywood, and Modern American Mass Culture

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Cecil B. DeMille's career serves as a lens to examine the development of Classical Hollywood and its impact on American mass commercial culture. His films reflected a broad consensus among the public, intertwining themes of consumer hedonism, faith, and national exceptionalism with the streamlined production techniques of major studios. Although his mid-career pivot to corporate propaganda diminished his scholarly reputation, it underscores the significant connections between his achievements and the evolution of mid-century mass culture.