Cecil B. DeMille, according to Wikipedia - very famous, of course. “He cultivated the image of the omnipotent director, complete with megaphone, riding crop, and jodhpurs. From 1936 to 1944, DeMille hosted Lux Radio Theater, a weekly digest of current feature films.”
I admit, I’m really only familiar with the name and the “I’m ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille” (which is actually backwards from the way the line was in Sunset Boulevard , but is the phrasing I’m familiar with).
DSeid
May 22, 2016, 2:55am
3
Apparently actually was the preferred uniform for early movie directors as seen here.
Why?
The jodhpur trouser became popular for military uniforms in Europe relating to riding a horse (and later a motorcycle). It was used a lot during World War I: a time when a military uniform gained much respect and an air of authority.
This air of military authority surrounding the jodhpur even influenced those fragile egos of early Hollywood directors who donned the military style to gain authority and respect (perhaps also fear) whilst sitting down on set.
Or so says that one source anyway.
This one traces the style to Austrian director Eric Von Stroheim in the '20s. (Picture there as well.)
DSeid
May 22, 2016, 3:05am
4
More on Eric Von Stroheim’s possible origination of the look.
… It was von Stroheim’s plan that the movie, which he had – at great expense and with uncompromising commitment to almost documentary-like realism – shot over the course of nine months in 1923, be released in two parts.
But other plans prevailed. A month after the director and actor, already famous for his carefully constructed persona as a European aristocrat (he was in reality the Austrian-born eldest son of a middle-class Jewish hatter) with monocle, riding crop, breeches and megaphone , made the announcement that his Greed was a four-hour two-parter, Goldwyn got sucked into the new MGM, and one of von Stroheim’s worst nightmares was realized. …
Emphasis mine.
Moved to Cafe Society.
Colibri
Very often, the stereotype was played with a German accent, which also points to von Stroheim.
What about Merian C. Cooper? I wouldn’t be surprised if he contributed to that look.
DSeid
May 22, 2016, 5:19pm
8
Tzigone:
… I’m really only familiar with the name and the “I’m ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille” (which is actually backwards from the way the line was in Sunset Boulevard , but is the phrasing I’m familiar with).
Fun trivia. Sunset Boulevard directed by Billy Wilder featured Erich von Stroehim as Nora Desmond’s butler Max with a fun shout out in the movie.
As the butler in Sunset Boulevard (1950) he is in the projection room when Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis are watching one of Norma’s old films. The film is actually Queen Kelly (1929), which von Stroehim directed and which starred Gloria Swanson, who is playing Norma Desmond.
That was already a comedy trope by 1938, when Tex Avery made “Daffy in Hollywood.”
(I’ll heff turrrkey mit all de trrrrrrrrrrrrrrimmings."
