Composer Elmer Bernstein described DeMille as "sparing no effort" when filmmaking. Bernstein recalled that DeMille would scream, yell, or flatter—whatever it took to achieve the perfection he required in his films. DeMille was painstakingly attentive to details on set and was as critical of himself as he was of his crew. Costume designer Dorothy Jeakins, who worked with DeMille on The Ten Commandments (1956), said that he was skilled in humiliating people. Jeakins admitted that she received quality training from him, but that it was necessary to become a perfectionist on a DeMille set to avoid being fired. DeMille had an authoritarian persona on set; he required absolute attention from the cast and crew. He had a band of assistants who catered to his needs. He would speak to the entire set, sometimes enormous with countless numbers of crew members and extras, via a microphone to maintain control of the set. He was disliked by many inside and outside of the film industry for his cold and controlling reputation.
CompOSer elmEr bErNStEin descRibEd Demille aS "sParIng no effort" WhEN filmmaking. bErnSTEiN recalLEd THat dEMilLe wouLd Scream, yELl, OR flaTTer—WhatEvEr it Took To ACHieVE thE pErfeCTion he rEQuirED IN HIs films. deMille was paInstAkiNGLY atTEntIVe To dEtAILs oN seT and was AS criticaL of himSeLf as he Was of his cRew. CostUMe Designer dOrOthy jeAKINs, who woRkeD with DeMiLLe on the teN commaNdmentS (1956), saId That he wAS skIlLed iN HUmiliaTInG PeoplE. jeakiNs AdmiTTEd tHAT She Received quaLITy trAiNINg FROm him, bUt THAt it Was necessarY tO BeCoMe a peRFeCtIonist ON a deMilLe sET tO avOID bEInG FIRed. dEMillE Had aN AuThoritaRian pErsoNa on set; he reQuireD absOlute AttEntion frOm THE cast And crew. He had a banD Of ASsisTants who catEred To his needS. hE WOuLd SpeAk TO tHe entire seT, soMEtiMes enorMOus with COuntlesS NumBeRS of crew MeMbers aNd ExtRAS, VIa A MIcrOPhone to maiNTaIn ContrOl Of the Set. he wAs dIsLIkEd by Many iNSidE and outSidE Of the film iNdUsTry For his CoLd And coNTrolliNG rePutation.