• Cecil B. DeMille

Ready for My deMille: Profiles in Excellence-Sophia Loren, 1995

Cecil B. deMille Award was presented to its namesake visionary director, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has awarded its most prestigious prize 66 times. From Walt Disney to Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor to Steven Spielberg and 62 others, the deMille has gone to luminaries – actors, directors, producers – who have left an indelible mark on Hollywood. Sometimes mistaken with a career achievement award, per HFPA statute, the deMille is more precisely bestowed for “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment”. In this series, HFPA cognoscente and former president Philip Berk profiles deMille laureates through the years.

Ingrid BergmanSophia LorenQuo Vadiscolor:#222222;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold”>when it was filmed at Cinecittà Studios.

Anthony Quinnnormal”>Vittorio De SicaAlan Ladd’sCary Grant’sJohn Wayne’sTwo Womencolor:#222222;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold”>which earned her the best actress award at the Cannes Festival and she became the first actress to win the Academy Award for a non-English speaking role. Following that triumph, she became the world’s most popular actress and was voted world film favorite six times over a thirteen-year span.

Delbert MannMartymso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#222222;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold”>on Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms (which failed to translate to the screen but which gave
"Times New Roman";color:#222222″>Anthony Perkins
Carol Reed’sMartin Ritt’sHouseboatcolor:#222222;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold”>her second film with Cary Grant (who was rumored to be actively pursuing her.) It was a box office hit, and after that, she elevated Sidney Lumet’snormal”>George Cukor’snormal”>It Started in Naplesnormal”>Clark GablePeter Sellersmso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#222222;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold”> changed all that. Playing the mother rather than the daughter finally earned her the international acclaim Ponti had envisioned for her. From then on, she was the most sought-after actress in the world. But unfortunately, even though she had the pick of roles none of them did her justice.

Charlton Heston’sEl Cid"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#222222;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold”> she was a strong Dulcinea in 
Man of La ManchaYesterday, Today, and TomorrowMarriage Italian StyleMarcello Mastroianninormal”>The Fall of the Roman EmpirePaul Newman’snormal”>Lady L
. Finally, it was
Stanley Donen’sGregory PeckMarlon BrandoFrancesco Rosi’sRobert Altman’sReady to Wear"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#222222;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold”> for which she received her only Golden Globe best-supporting actress nomination; she played opposite
Jack Lemmonnormal”>Walter MatthauFederico Fellini’sMadame Rosa