Samson & Delilah (1950)
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VHS Movie Reviews of Samson & Delilah (1950)
Movie Review: Another DeMille Spectacle
Summary: 5 Stars
"Samson and Delilah" is a high quality 1949 epic spectacle directed by Cecil B DeMille, starring Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr as the title characters. The story of Samson and Delilah is adapted from the biblical Book of Judges.
This is a delightful epic and moving story which was very successful. It is characterized by excellent cast, production and colourful costumes plus good acting. This DeMille's Biblical epic has unforgettable scenes and is well known for the beauty of its leading lady and the spectacular toppling of the temple.
The setting of the film is during the period when the Israelites were ruled and oppressed by the Philistines. During this time, God's angel appeared to Manoah and his sterile wife, Israelites residing in the city of Zorah. This angel tells them that they will have a son who will deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. The child was not to shave or cut his hair. Later the son, Samson, is born and he is reared according to the dictates of the angel.
Samson grew to be an Israelite of incredible strength and was a scourge of the Philistines. All the attempts by the Philistines to capture him had failed. Samson is utilized his massive strength to combat his enemies and perform heroic feats unachievable by ordinary men such as wrestling a lion; slaying an entire army with nothing more than a mule's jawbone and breaking down an entire building.
Along the way, Samson commits sins which results in his disastrous end. Whilst he was in Gaza, he falls in love with Delilah, a beautiful, charming and scheming lady. The Philistines approach Delilah and induce her to try to find the secret of Samson's strength. Eventually Samson tells Delilah that he will lose his strength at the loss of his hair. Delilah shaves Samson's hair and Samson is captured by the Philistines, who blind him. Samson is imprisoned by the Philistines, and is put to work grinding grain.
One day the Philistine leaders assemble in a temple for a religious sacrifice to their god Dagon for having delivered Samson into their hands. As their merriment grows, they summon Samson so that he may entertain them. Once inside the temple, Samson asks the servant who is leading him to the temple's central pillars if he may lean against them.
Then Samson prayed to God asking to be strengthened just once more, so that he can get revenge on the Philistines and for him to die with the Philistines. God gave him back his strength and he brought down the temple on the rulers and all the people in it.
This is a highly recommended movie. You should also see another DeMille spectacle, the Ten Commandments, if not yet done so.
Movie Review: Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr Heat Up The Screen in Their Most Unforgettable Roles
Summary: 5 Stars
"Samson and Delilah", one of the super epics created by legendary producer/director Cecil B. DeMille really ushered in the amazing decade of epic film production that included such lavish efforts as "Quo Vadis?", "The Ten Commandments", and of course "Ben Hur". It is a personal favourite of mine from a decade full of such epic retellings of episodes from the religious and historical past. Both Victor Mature and Hedy LaMarr I feel had the roles of their life times here and Cecil B. DeMille created a suitably lavish and colourful production around them that is still wonderful entertainment without ever loosing sight of the religious nature of the story. Movie Review: "Your kiss is the sting of death."
Summary: 5 Stars
Cecil B. DeMille created one of the most entertaining Bible epics of the 1940's and 1950's when he directed "Samson and Delilah". The lavish sets and colorful costumes are simply wonderful and the cast is filled with well-known stars, like Victor Mature, Hedy Lamarr, George Sanders and Angela Lansbury. The movie won oscars for art direction/set decoration and costumes, but as usual the cast of a Biblical epic was ignored by the Academy Awards. Since nearly everyone's heard the Old Testament story of Samson and Delilah, I'll include only a very brief summary of the movie.
Victor Mature stars as Samson, a respected and feared Hebrew leader who is seduced by the Philistine femme fatale Delilah, unforgettably played by the sexy Hedy Lamarr. Samson fears no man because God has blessed him with amazing strength, and he kills many of his foes. When Delilah fears that Samson will leave her, she betrays him to the local Philistine ruler (George Sanders) after learning the secret of Samson's extraordinary strength lies in his long hair, which she promptly cuts. Now reduced to a blind slave, Samson asks God for forgiveness and his strength back. God gives him his strength back, and Samson delivers one final, devastating blow to the Philistines.
"Samson and Delilah" is one of my favorite stories from the Bible and although DeMille changed some of the facts of the story it still remains a very entertaining classic. For the totally accurate version of the story read Judges 13-16 in the Old Testament. Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature were superb and their chemistry was electric. I hope we don't have to wait much longer before this great epic is released on a special edition dvd!
Movie Review: The Jaw Bone of an Ass is a Mighty Weapon in Samson's hands!
Summary: 4 Stars
The '50 was the "Sword & Sandal Movies" decade. Uncountable films of the genre were released. The most notable: "The Ten Commandments" (1956) and "The Robe" (1958). Also in a very good supporting second line "The Egyptian" (1954), "Land of Pharaohs" (1955) and "Helen of Troy" (1956).
"Samson & Delilah" (1949) was nearer to the first group than the second.
A renowned specialist as Cecil B. DeMille was summoned.
He had a solid and successful experience in the genre, from first "Ten Commandments" (1923) version (he was responsible also for 1956's version) thru "The King of Kings" (1927) till "Cleopatra" (1934) and "The Crusades" (1935), he directed one blockbuster after other.
The script is based on the Biblical tale of Samson. This Hercules-like hero appeared among the Jews when they were oppressed by the Philistines.
The film depicts him as a rather na?ve peasant in love with a Philistine girl. In order to gain her hand he kill barehanded a lion and won the prize.
Unfortunately for everyone a conjunction of mishap transform his wedding day in a bloody tragedy.
Delilah, his would-be sister-in-law swears revenge. She will not stop until poor Samson is rendered powerless and delivered into his enemies' hands.
The movie is outstanding in several categories: Costumes and Set Decoration both won the Oscar; Cinematography, Special Effects and Music Scoring were nominated. Remember that in those days the Oscar Award was a Major Award.
As for the performing, Victor Mature had the perfect physique-du-role and he will profit from it in following years starring and co-starring "The Robe" (1953), "Demetrius & the Gladiators" (1954) amongst other films.
Hedy Lamarr was a gorgeous vamp as Delilah and played the seducer's role perfectly.
For me there are two unforgettable scenes: one Samson defeating an entire Philistine army armed only with an ass' jaw bone the other the Hero smashing down the temple barehanded.
It is a good Ancient History related film.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Movie Review: What is Paramount waiting for?
Summary: 5 Stars
Paramount Pictures if you are reading this, please, please tell us why you are waiting so long to release this Bibical masterpiece by Cecil B. DeMille? It was one of the highest grossing moneymakers in movie history up until 1950. Please don't make us wait much longer. Also, why you are at it, please consider releasing other DeMille classics such as "Union Pacific", "The Crusades" and "Unconquered". Thanks.