Samson and Delilah [2 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]

Director: Cecil B. DeMille Cecil B. DeMille

Overview

Samson and Delilah is Cecil B. DeMille's characteristically expansive retelling of the events found in the Old Testament passages of Judges 13-16. Victor Mature plays Samson, the superstrong young Danite. Samson aspires to marry Philistine noblewoman Semadar (Angela Lansbury), but she is killed when her people attack Samson as a blood enemy. Seeking revenge, Semadar's younger sister Delilah (Hedy Lamarr) woos Samson in hopes of discovering the secret of his strength, thus enabling her to destroy him. When she learns that his source of his virility is his long hair, Delilah plies Samson with drink, then does gives him the Old Testament equivalent of a buzzcut while he snores away. She delivers the helpless Samson to the Philistines, ordering that he be put to work as a slave. Blinded and humiliated by his enemies, Samson is a sorry shell of his former self. Ultimately, Samson's hair grows back, thus setting the stage for the rousing climax wherein Samson literally brings down the house upon the wayward Philistines. Hedy Lamarr is pretty hopeless as Delilah, but Victor Mature is surprisingly good as Samson, even when mouthing such idiotic lines as "That's all right. It's only a young lion." Even better is George Sanders as The Saran of Gaza, who wisely opts to underplay his florid villainy. The spectacular climax to Samson and Delilah allows us to forget such dubious highlights as Samson's struggle with a distressing phony lion and the tedious cat-and-mouse romantic scenes.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/11/2014
UPC:	0032429146489
Original Release:	1949
Rating:	NR
Source:	PARAMOUNT
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	2:13:00
Sales rank:	14,142

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Victor Mature	Samson
Hedy Lamarr	Delilah
Angela Lansbury	Semadar
George Sanders	The Saran of Gaza
Henry Wilcoxon	Ahtur
Olive Deering	Miriam
Fay Holden	Hazel
Julia Faye	Hisham
Russ Tamblyn	Saul
William Farnum	Tubal
Lane Chandler	Teresh
Moroni Olsen	Targil
Francis McDonald	Story Teller
Wee Willie Davis	Garmiskar,Priest
John Miljan	Lesh Lakish
Arthur Q. Bryan	Fat Philistine Merchant
Laura Elliott	Spectator
Victor Varconi	Lord of Ashdod
John Parrish	Lord of Gath
Frank Wilcox	Lord of Ekron
Russell Hicks	Lord of Ashkelon
Fritz Leiber	Lord Sharif
Mike Mazurki	Leader of Philistine Soldiers
Davison Clark	Merchant Prince
George Reeves	Wounded Messenger
Pedro de Cordoba	Bar Simon
Frank Reicher	Village Barber
Charles Evans	Manoah
George Zoritch	Sword Dancer
Hamil Petroff	Sword Dancer
Frank Mayo	Master Architect
Lloyd Whitlock	Chief Scribe
Crauford Kent	Court Astrologer
Harry Woods	Gammad
Steve Roberts	Bergam at Feast
Ed Hinton	Makon at Feast/Double for Victor Mature
Carl Saxe	Slave
James Craven	Prince
Nils Asther	Prince
Harry Cording	Prince
Colin Tapley	Prince
Charles Meredith	High Priest
Pierre Watkin	Priest
Fred Graham	Priest
John 'Skins' Miller	Man with Burro
Lester Sharpe	Saddle Maker
Olive Carey	Miriam
Edgar Dearing	Tax Collector
Hugh Prosser	Tax Collector
John Merton	Assistant Tax Collector
Al Ferguson	Villager
Fred Kohler Jr.	Soldier
Tom Tyler	Philistine Captain of Gristmill
Ray Bennett	Overseer at Gristmill
Charles Judels	Danite Merchant
Brahm van den Berg	Temple Dancer
Eric Alden	Courtier
Bob Kortman	Vendor
Philo McCullough	Merchant
Ted Mapes	Captain Killed by Jawbone
Gertrude Messinger	Woman
Betty Boyd	Woman
Dorothy Adams	Woman
Betty Farrington	Woman
Claire DuBrey	Woman
Greta Granstedt	Woman
Byron Foulger	Man
Stanley Blystone	Man
Crane Whitley	Man
Kenneth Gibson	Man
Jeff York	Spectator
Bert Moorhouse	Spectator
Margaret Field	Spectator
John Kellogg	Spectator
Charles Dayton	Midget at Arena
Henry Wills	Saran's Charioteer
Karen Morley	Woman
Stephen Roberts	Bergam at Feast

Technical Credits

Cecil B. DeMille	Director,Producer
Gordon Jennings	Special Effects,Special Effects
Paul K. Lerpae	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

Despite its campy dialogue and hammy acting, this 1949 Cecil B. DeMille biblical epic hit paydirt at the box office and remains popular on TV movie channels. Credit the following for its enduring appeal: the knockout beauty and exposed bellybutton of Hedy Lamarr portraying Delilah; the virility and acrobatic eyebrows of Victor Mature portraying Samson; the hand-to-paw combat between a ferocious lion (really a toothless stand-in) and Mature (really a stuntman); and the extravagance of DeMille's sets and costumes. DeMille was always willing to go big, whatever the cost, hiring the most popular stars to recite the lines and the best carpenters and engineers to build the backdrops. In Samson and Delilah, however, he was not willing to go overseas. The entire production was filmed in California. There is plenty of action, as Samson wrestles, cracks skulls, and topples a massive building. There is also romance, as Delilah bewitches Samson and he bends a spear for her. Finally, there is visual splendor in the silks and satins, jewels, gleaming armor, and Technicolor. George Sanders delivers the best performance in the film as a jaded, worldly wise ruler in Gaza. The most spectacular scene occurs at the end of the film after Samson has his famous bad hair day and grows back enough of his locks to wreak revenge. Most critics hate the film, but they probably watch it when nobody is looking.

All Movie Guide - Mike Cummings