C M LIFE VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT I, 497, 1999-08-30

C M LIFE VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT I
497, 1999-08-30

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<PAGE>

FLEXIBLE PREMIUM VARIABLE WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

ISSUED BY C.M. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

Supplement dated August 30, 1999
Prospectus dated May 1, 1999

The Prospectus for the Policy is revised to change the name of one Division of
the Separate Account, effective as of the date of this Supplement.

This change is being made in order to maintain consistency between the name of
the Divisions and the names of the investment funds in which the Divisions
invest. See page 15 of the Prospectus for more information about the Divisions
and the investment funds.

Listed below are the "old" name and "new" name of the Division, along with the
name of the associated investment fund.

Old Division Name New Division Name Investment Fund
- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------
Oppenheimer Growth Oppenheimer Capital Oppenheimer Capital
Appreciation Appreciation Fund/VA

The name of the investment fund listed above was previously changed to its
current name as of May 1, 1999. This information was previously communicated and
still appears in the footnotes to the tables in the attached pages.

No Impact on Policy Transactions

Net Premium allocations will not be affected. Current allocations to the
Division that invests in the fund listed above will continue to go to the
Division that invests in that same fund, even though the name of the Division
has changed. These allocations will not change without your written
instructions.

Similarly, deductions made from the Account Value of the Policy, and all other
Policy transactions, will not be affected.

Revised Prospectus Pages

Revisions to certain pages of the Prospectus for the Policy are as follows:

1. The fourth paragraph of Page 1 is revised to clarify the distinction
between Divisions and investment funds.

2. Two footnotes on Page 5 are changed. The first one is revised to indicate
the name change of the Division.

3. The Chart footnotes on Page 18 of Section III, Investment Options, have
been similarly revised. The second one corrects an error in the name of the
Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Division.

4. The footnotes to Tables 1 and 2 (continued) in Appendix C (Pages 35 and 37)
also have been similarly revised.

5. On Page 38, the paragraph discussing Tables 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9 has been
revised to correct the description of the assumptions for Administrative
and Face Amount Charges in those Tables. (The Tables are correct, however.)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 30, 1999 Li4101-99.1
<PAGE>

Flexible Premium Adjustable Variable Life Insurance Policies*

Issued by C.M. Life Insurance Company

This Prospectus describes a life insurance policy (the "Policy") offered by C.M.
Life Insurance Company ("C.M. Life"). While the Policy is in force, it provides
lifetime insurance protection on the Insured named in the Policy. It pays a
Death Benefit at the death of the Insured.

In this Prospectus, "you" and "your" refer to the Owner of the Policy. "We,"
"us," and "our" refer to C.M. Life. "MassMutual" refers to Massachusetts Mutual
Life Insurance Company. C.M. Life is a wholly owned subsidiary of MassMutual.

The Policy provides premium payment and Death Benefit flexibility. It permits
you to vary the frequency and amount of premium payments and to increase or
decrease the Death Benefit. This flexibility allows you to meet changing
insurance needs under a single insurance policy.

You may allocate Net Premiums and Account Value among the Divisions of the
Separate Account offered under this Policy and a Guaranteed Principal Account
(the "GPA"). Each Division invests in shares of a designated investment fund.
Currently, the following funds are available under this Policy.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MML Trust Oppenheimer Trust Variable Insurance Products Fund II
- --------- ----------------- -----------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
MML Equity Fund Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA VIP II Contrafund Portfolio
MML Managed Bond Fund Oppenheimer Global Securities Fund/VA
MML Money Market Fund Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA
MML Blend Fund Oppenheimer Strategic Bond Fund/VA
MML Equity Index Fund T. Rowe Price Equity Series, Inc.
MML Small Cap Value Equity --------------------------------------
Fund T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
American Century Variable
Portfolios, Inc.
-------------------------
American Century VP Income & Growth
</TABLE>

You bear the investment risk of any Account Value allocated to the investment
funds. The Death Benefit may vary, and the Net Surrender Value will vary,
depending on the investment performance of the funds.

This Policy is not a deposit or obligation of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any
financial institution. It is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other federal agency. It is also
subject to investment risks, including loss of the principal amount invested.

We service the Policy at our Administrative Office located at 1295 State Street,
Springfield, Massachusetts 01111-0001. Our telephone number is (413) 788-8411.
Our Home Office is located in Hartford, Connecticut.

This Policy provides insurance protection. It is not a way to invest in mutual
funds. Replacing an existing life insurance policy with this Policy may not be
to your advantage.

Please read this prospectus and keep it for further reference.

Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved this Prospectus or determined that it is
accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This Prospectus is valid only when accompanied by the prospectuses for the
investment funds. The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a Web site
(http://www.sec.gov) that contains material incorporated by reference and other
information regarding registrants that is filed with the Commission.

This Prospectus is not an offer to sell the Policy in any jurisdiction where it
is illegal to offer the Policy or to anyone to whom it is illegal to offer the
Policy.

EFFECTIVE AUGUST 30, 1999

*Title may vary in some jurisdictions.
<PAGE>

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES
AND OTHER EXPENSES

Total fund operating expenses expressed as a percentage of average net assets
for the year ended December 31, 1998.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Fund
Other Operating
Fund Name Management Fees Expenses Expenses
- --------------------------- --------------- -------- ----------
MML Equity Fund 0.37% 0.00% 0.37%

MML Managed Bond Fund 0.45% 0.03% 0.48%

MML Blend Fund 0.37% 0.00% 0.37%

MML Money Market Fund 0.46% 0.03% 0.49%

MML Equity Index Fund 0.30% 0.20% 0.50%

MML Small Cap Value Equity Fund 0.39% 0.05% 0.44%

Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation
Fund/VA+ 0.72% 0.03% 0.75%

Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth
Fund/VA++ 0.69% 0.02% 0.71%

Oppenheimer Global Securities
Fund/VA 0.68% 0.06% 0.74%

Oppenheimer Strategic Bond
Fund/VA 0.74% 0.06% 0.80%

VIP II Contrafund Portfolio* 0.59% 0.07% 0.66%

T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth
Portfolio 0.85% 0.00% 0.85%

American Century VP Income
& Growth N/A N/A 0.70%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

+The Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Division invests in the Oppenheimer
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA. Prior to May 1, 1999, the Oppenheimer Capital
Appreciation Fund/VA was called the Oppenheimer Growth Fund. Prior to August 30,
1999, the Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Division was called the Oppenheimer
Growth Division.

++The Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Division invests in the Oppenheimer
Aggressive Growth Fund/VA. Prior to May 1, 1998, the Oppenheimer Aggressive
Growth Fund/VA was called the Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund.

* A portion of the brokerage commissions that Contrafund pays was used to reduce
the Other Expenses for the Fund. In addition, Contrafund, or the investment
manager on behalf of the Fund, entered into an arrangement with a Fund custodian
whereby credits realized as a result of non-invested cash balances were used to
reduce custodian expenses. Without such reductions, the Other Expenses would
have been 0.11%, increasing the Total Fund Operating Expenses to 0.70%.

Introduction 5
<PAGE>

INVESTMENT PREFERENCE CHART*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Global Securities Fund/VA
VIP II Contrafund Portfolio
Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA++
MML Small Cap Value Equity Fund
T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA+
MML Equity Index Fund
American Century VP Income & Growth
MML Equity Fund
MML Blend Fund
Oppenheimer Strategic Bond Fund/VA
MML Managed Bond Fund
MML Money Market Fund
Guaranteed Principal Account
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conservative Less Conservative Moderate Aggressive More Aggressive

Conservative: Investment goal is preservation of principal, while incurring
little risk.

Less Conservative: Investment goal is primarily preservation of principal, with
some desire for growth.

Moderate: Investment goal is growth, while seeking some preservation of
principal.

Aggressive: Investment goal is growth, with more tolerance for risk.

More Aggressive: Investment goal is significant growth over the long-term, with
greater tolerance for risk.

*This chart is provided by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. It does
not necessarily reflect the opinion of the underlying fund managers.

MML Money Market Fund

MML Money Market Fund seeks to maximize current income, to preserve capital, and
to maintain liquidity by investing in money market instruments.

MML Managed Bond Fund

MML Managed Bond Fund seeks a high rate of return, consistent with capital
preservation, by investing primarily in investment grade, publicly traded, fixed
income securities.

Oppenheimer Strategic Bond Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Strategic Bond Fund/VA is a mutual fund that seeks a high level of
current income principally derived from interest on debt securities and seeks to
enhance such income by writing covered call options on debt securities. The Fund
invests in three market sectors: debt securities of foreign government and
companies, U.S. Government securities, and lower-rated, high-yield securities of
U.S. companies.

MML Blend Fund

MML Blend Fund seeks a high total rate of return over time, consistent with
prudent investment risk and capital preservation, by investing in equity, fixed
income and money market securities.

Sub-adviser to the equity sector of the Fund is David L. Babson & Company, Inc.

MML Equity Fund

MML Equity Fund seeks to achieve a superior rate of return over time from both
capital appreciation and current income and to preserve capital by investing in
equity securities.

Sub-adviser to the Fund is David L. Babson & Company, Inc.

18 Investment Options
<PAGE>

TABLE 1

EFFECTIVE ANNUAL RATES OF RETURN
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since
Fund Inception 15 Years 10 Years 5 Years 1 Year
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
MML Equity 14.84% 15.76% 16.39% 19.66% 16.20%
MML Managed Bond 10.24% 10.16% 9.19% 7.07% 8.14%
MML Blend 13.67% --- 13.70% 14.60% 13.56%
MML Money Market 6.66% 6.16% 5.41% 4.95% 5.16%
MML Equity Index 31.03% --- --- --- 28.22%
MML Small Cap Value Equity (23.88%) --- --- --- (23.88%)*
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation+ 16.03% --- 16.85% 22.10% 24.00%
Oppenheimer Aggressive 15.07% --- 16.12% 13.06% 12.36%
Growth++
Oppenheimer Global Securities 12.49% --- --- 9.67% 14.11%
Oppenheimer Strategic Bond 6.79% --- --- 6.83% 2.90%
VIP II Contrafund Portfolio 28.62% --- --- --- 29.98%
T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio 20.43% --- --- --- 22.08%
American Century VP Income & Growth 30.68% --- --- --- 26.87%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

The figures in this Table do not reflect any charges at the Separate Account or
Policy level.

*Since inception.

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Dates of inception:
MML Equity Fund - 9/15/71 Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA - 4/3/85
MML Managed Bond Fund - 12/16/81 Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA - 8/15/86
MML Money Market Fund - 12/16/81 Oppenheimer Global Securities Fund/VA - 11/12/90
MML Blend Fund - 2/3/84 Oppenheimer Strategic Bond Fund/VA - 5/3/93
MML Equity Index Fund - 5/1/97 VIP II Contrafund Portfolio - 1/3/95
MML Small Cap Value Equity Fund - 6/1/98 T. Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio - 12/31/96
American Century VP Income & Growth - 10/30/97
</TABLE>

Appendix C 35
<PAGE>

TABLE 2 (continued)

ONE YEAR TOTAL RETURNS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T. Rowe Price American
Oppenheimer Oppenheimer Oppenheimer VIP II Mid Cap Century
Capital Aggressive Global Oppenheimer Contrafund Growth VP Income &
Year Ended Appreciation+ Growth++ Securities Strategic Bond Portfolio Portfolio Growth
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1998 24.00% 12.36% 14.11% 2.90% 29.98% 22.08% 26.87%
1997 26.69% 11.67% 22.42% 8.71% 24.14% 18.80%* 7.8%*
1996 25.20% 20.23% 17.80% 12.07% 21.22% --- ---
1995 36.66% 32.52% 2.24% 15.33% 39.72%* --- ---
1994 0.97% (7.59%) (5.72%) (3.78%) --- --- ---
1993 7.25% 27.32% 70.32% 4.25%* --- --- ---
1992 14.53% 15.42% (7.11%) --- --- --- ---
1991 25.54% 54.72% 3.39% --- --- --- ---
1990 (8.21%) (16.82%) 0.40%* --- --- --- ---
1989 23.59% 27.57% --- --- --- --- ---
1988 22.09% 13.41% --- --- --- --- ---
1987 3.31% 14.34% --- --- --- --- ---
1986 17.76% (1.65%)* --- --- --- --- ---
1985 9.50%* --- --- --- --- --- ---
1984 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1983 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1982 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1981 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1980 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1979 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1978 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1977 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1976 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1975 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1974 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

The figures in this Table do not reflect any charges at the Separate Account or
Policy level.

*Since inception.

Appendix C 37
<PAGE>

Appendix D

Illustration of Death Benefits, Net Surrender Values, and Accumulated Premiums

The following tables illustrate the way in which a Policy operates. They show
how the Death Benefit and Net Surrender Value could vary over an extended period
of time assuming the funds experience hypothetical gross rates of investment
return (i.e., investment income and capital gains and losses, realized or
unrealized), equal to constant gross annual rates of 0%, 6%, and 12%. The tables
are based on annual premium payments of $1,200 for a Select Preferred Male age
35. Select Preferred is currently our best risk classification. Separate tables
are shown for the current and guaranteed schedules of charges. These tables will
assist in the comparison of Death Benefits and Net Surrender Values for the
Policy with those of other variable life policies.

The Death Benefits and Net Surrender Values for a Policy would be different from
the amounts shown if:

. the rates of return averaged 0%, 6%, and 12% over a period of years, but
varied above and below that average in individual Policy Years

. any Policy loan were made during the period of time illustrated

. the rates of return for all funds averaged 0%, 6%, and 12% but varied above
or below that average for particular funds.

The Death Benefits and Net Surrender Values shown in Tables 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9
reflect the following current charges:

. Administrative Charges of $6 per month per Policy in all years.

. Face Amount Charges of $0.13 per month per $1,000 of Face Amount in
Coverage Years 1-5

. Insurance Charges based on the current rates we are charging for Select
Preferred, fully underwritten risks.

. Mortality and Expense Risk Charges of 0.55% on an annual basis of the daily
net asset value of the Separate Account in all Policy Years.

. Fund level expenses of 0.59% on an annual basis of the net asset value of
the Separate Account. These expenses represent the unweighted average of
all fund expenses.

The Death Benefits and Net Surrender Values shown in Tables 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, and
12 reflect the following guaranteed maximum charges as well as the current fund
level expenses.

. Administrative Charges equal to $12 per month per Policy in all years.

. Face Amount Charges of $0.13 per month per $1,000 of Face Amount in
Coverage Years 1-5

. Insurance Charges based on the Commissioners 1980 Standard Ordinary
Nonsmoker Mortality Table.

. Mortality and Expense Risk Charges equal to 0.90% on an annual basis of the
daily net asset value of the Separate Account in all years.

Net Surrender Values shown in the Tables reflect the deduction of Surrender
Charges in the first 10 Policy Years. The Surrender Charge in the first year is
the Target Premium or $60 per $1,000 of Face Amount if less. In each of Years
two through 14, the Surrender Charge is equal to the Surrender Charge in the
prior year reduced by 1/14th of the Surrender Charge in the first year.

Taking the current Mortality and Expense Risk Charge and the fund level expenses
into account, the gross rates of 0%, 6%, and 12% are (1.15%), 4.78%, and 10.71%,
respectively, on a net basis.

38 Appendix D