Samson and Delilah (1949)

Director:

Cecil B. DeMille

Writers:

Jesse Lasky Jr. (screenplay) &
Fredric M. Frank (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

January 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

HISTORY'S MOST BEAUTIFUL AND TREACHEROUS WOMAN! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Though his people, the Israelites, are enslaved by the Philistines, Samson, strongest man of the tribe of Dan...

Plot Keywords:

Philistine | Bible | Hair | Sword And Sandal | Betrayal

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Hedy Lamarr	...	Delilah
Victor Mature	...	Samson
George Sanders	...	The Saran of Gaza
Angela Lansbury	...	Semadar
Henry Wilcoxon	...	Prince Ahtur
Olive Deering	...	Miriam
Fay Holden	...	Hazelelponit
Julia Faye	...	Haisham
Russ Tamblyn	...	Saul (as Russell Tamblyn)
William Farnum	...	Tubal
Lane Chandler	...	Teresh
Moroni Olsen	...	Targil
Francis McDonald	...	Story Teller (as Francis J. McDonald)
William 'Wee Willie' Davis	...	Garmiskar (as William Davis)
John Miljan	...	Lesh Lakish

Also Known As:

Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

131 min | Argentina:134 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Approved (certificate #13447) | UK:U | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

A false story has circulated that George Reeves auditioned for the role of Samson in Samson and Delilah (1949) but lost the role to Victor Mature. Reeves was never under consideration for the role of Samson. However, he was given a role as the Wounded Messenger at the recommendation of Mature, who was very loyal to his friends from his student days at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. Many of the smaller roles in Samson and Delilah (1949) were played by Mature's friends from Pasadena.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Although the Phillistines did indeed worship the god Dagon, everything else about them as depicted in the film is untrue; not even the clothing corresponds with archaeological evidence. We now know the Philistine men shaved their facial hair and wore their head hair long, thanks to depictions of them found at the ruins of the actual Phillistia, which was not discovered until long after this movie had come out. The fact is that we do not know much about the Phillistines at all. In fact, we do not even know whether or not Phillistine women were treated as equals by the men!

Quotes:

Samson: The oldest trick in the world. Silk trap, baited with a woman.
Delilah: You know a better bait, Samson? Men *always* respond.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Colour Me Kubrick: A True...ish Story (2005)

Soundtrack:

THE FAT PHILISTINE MERCHANT

Still worth looking at

Yeah...so some people may think it's corny and outdated. However, there is something about this movie, in spite of some of the poorer technical gimmicks...yet I still love it. I think that Lamarr does a great job as Delilah and don't understand why some think otherwise.I think she is/was the perfect Delilah..and Mature did a great job as Samson. Sanders was really terrific in his role and Lansbury carried out her part very well also. Call it what you will..but I find it is still worth watching; the color, costumes, Samson knocking down the Temple.. (love that scene!Good special effects for the time.) Whatever it is..I find myself watching it every now and then and still enjoy it as much as when I first saw it..