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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 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!
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!
Delilah: No man leaves Delilah.
Samson: What is sweeter than honey?
Semadar: What is stronger than a lion?
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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.
A false story has circulated that George Reeves auditioned for the role of Samson in Samson and Delilah 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, were also played by Mature's friends from Pasadena.
According to the biography 'The Presidents and the Preacher', Cecil B. DeMille originally offered the role of Samson to the young Billy Graham, then experiencing his first national fame as an evangelist. Graham turned the offer down flat, telling DeMille that he had no ambitions beyond his calling to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The director told Graham that he'd been certain that the young evangelist would refuse the offer, but that in actually doing so Graham had restored DeMille's faith.
Victor Mature won the role of Samson over Burt Lancaster, who had a bad back and was considered too young. Henry Wilcoxon was considered, but thought to be too old.
"Samson and Delilah" was far and away the top-grossing film of 1949 at $11,000,000. The second highest film, "Battleground," grossed only $4,554,000 by comparison.
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