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Samson and Delilah Overview:

Samson and Delilah (1949) was a Action - Adventure Film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and produced by Cecil B. DeMille.

The film was based on the The Bible The Book of Judges from & novel "Judge and Fool" by Vladimir Jabotinsky written by unknown author published in 6th century BCE.

SYNOPSIS

This is DeMille's grandest biblical epic and that's saying something. At a cost of $3 million, DeMille created a Technicolor version of the Old Testament world of the Danite shepherd who slays his Philistine captors with the jaw of an ass, but who succumbs to the wiles of a woman. As the hunky hero, Mature is in top form, his chiseled face straining as he fells his enemies but its fleshiness also hinting at his weakness. Lamarr also struts and poses to great effect, but the main attraction here in the spectacle itself, from Samson's shows of strength, his battles with the Philistines, and his climactic destruction of the temple.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1950 --- Ceremony Number 23 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Hans Dreier, Walter Tyler; Set Decoration: Sam Comer, Ray MoyerWon
Best CinematographyGeorge BarnesNominated
Best Costume DesignEdith Head, Dorothy Jeakins, Elois Jenssen, Gile Steele, Gwen WakelingWon
Best Music - ScoringVictor YoungNominated
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Samson and Delilah BlogHub Articles:

Samson and Delilah

By RBuccicone on Dec 27, 2010 From MacGuffin Movies

Samson and Delilah (1950)      Biblical tales typically fail to grab my interest, probably primarily because the time period does not interest me. And frankly, I should probably stop using George Sanders as a guidepost for which movies I pursue. Samson and Delilah was alright, and Hedy Lamarr t... Read full article

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Samson and Delilah Quotes:

Samson: [of Delilah] Hold this fork-tongued adder before I put a heel on her.
Delilah: If you crush the life out of me I'd kiss you with my dying breath!
Samson: The oldest trick in the world. Silk trap, baited with a woman.
Delilah: You know a better bait, Samson? Men *always* respond.
Delilah: No man leaves Delilah.
[Samson has chosen Semadar over Delilah as his bride]
Delilah: I hate him.
Tubal: Because he's a Danite?
Delilah: Because he's a fool!
Tubal: Most men are, Delilah. There's nothing you can do about it.
[leaves]
Delilah: [smiles craftily] Sometimes a bee can move an ox.
Samson: You came to this house as wedding guests. Fire and death are your gifts to my bride. For all that I do against you now, I shall be blameless. I'll give you back fire for fire, and death for death!
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Samson and Delilah Facts
It took two tries to bring down the Temple of Dagon in the film's climactic sequence. During the first time, some of the dynamite charges in the miniature temple failed to go off on schedule. The temple (about one-third full size) had to be rebuilt, and the second attempt was more successful. Footage from both tries can be seen in the completed film: when the statue of Dagon starts to fall, there is a cut to the Saran saying "Delilah," then a cut back to a long shot of the statue hitting the ground, but at a slightly different angle from that of the previous shot.
Sunset Blvd. was also being filmed around Paramount at the same time as this movie. In a scene where Gloria Swanson's character Norma Desmond visits the sound stage to see Cecil B. DeMille, he was actually directing a scene from Samson and Delilah and the actual cast members and crew are seen taking a break from this feature.
During the temple-destruction sequence, Henry Wilcoxon was struck by a falling column and approached Cecil B. DeMille with blood streaming down his face. According to biographer Charles Higham, DeMille remarked, " Good God, Harry, you look terrible; you're going to hold up production." Wilcoxen sardonically replied, "Well, I wouldn't be the first actor to be destroyed by a column."
Cecil B. DeMille considered Betty Hutton for the role of Delilah.
With a $12 million gross domestically, this was the biggest hit Paramount had to date.
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