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Samson and Delilah

  • 19491949
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 14m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
7.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature in Samson and Delilah (1949)
When strongman Samson rejects the love of the beautiful Philistine woman Delilah, she seeks vengeance that brings horrible consequences they both regret.
Play trailer2:11
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaFamilyHistory

When strongman Samson rejects the love of the beautiful Philistine woman Delilah, she seeks vengeance that brings horrible consequences they both regret.When strongman Samson rejects the love of the beautiful Philistine woman Delilah, she seeks vengeance that brings horrible consequences they both regret.When strongman Samson rejects the love of the beautiful Philistine woman Delilah, she seeks vengeance that brings horrible consequences they both regret.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
7.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Jesse Lasky Jr.(screenplay)
    • Fredric M. Frank(screenplay)
    • Harold Lamb(original treatment)
  • Stars
    • Hedy Lamarr
    • Victor Mature
    • George Sanders
Top credits
  • Director
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Jesse Lasky Jr.(screenplay)
    • Fredric M. Frank(screenplay)
    • Harold Lamb(original treatment)
  • Stars
    • Hedy Lamarr
    • Victor Mature
    • George Sanders
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 78User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 7 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:11
    Trailer

    Photos118

    Victor Mature and Henry Wilcoxon in Samson and Delilah (1949)
    Victor Mature in Samson and Delilah (1949)
    Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature in Samson and Delilah (1949)
    Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature in Samson and Delilah (1949)
    "Samson and Delilah" Victor Mature, Hedy Lamarr 1950 Paramount
    "Samson and Delilah" Hedy Lamarr 1950 Paramount
    "Samson and Delilah" Victor Mature 1950 Paramount
    "Samson and Delilah" Victor Mature, Hedy Lamarr 1949 Paramount
    "Samson and Delilah" Victor Mature, Angela Lansbury 1949 Paramount
    "Samson and Delilah" Victor Mature 1949 Paramount
    "Samson and Delilah" Victor Mature 1949 Paramount
    "Samson and Delilah" Victor Mature 1949 Paramount

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hedy Lamarr
    Hedy Lamarr
    • Delilahas Delilah
    Victor Mature
    Victor Mature
    • Samsonas Samson
    George Sanders
    George Sanders
    • The Saran of Gazaas The Saran of Gaza
    Angela Lansbury
    Angela Lansbury
    • Semadaras Semadar
    Henry Wilcoxon
    Henry Wilcoxon
    • Ahturas Ahtur
    Olive Deering
    Olive Deering
    • Miriamas Miriam
    Fay Holden
    Fay Holden
    • Hazelelponitas Hazelelponit
    Julia Faye
    Julia Faye
    • Hishamas Hisham
    Russ Tamblyn
    Russ Tamblyn
    • Saulas Saul
    • (as Russell Tamblyn)
    William Farnum
    William Farnum
    • Tubalas Tubal
    Lane Chandler
    Lane Chandler
    • Tereshas Teresh
    Moroni Olsen
    Moroni Olsen
    • Targilas Targil
    Francis McDonald
    Francis McDonald
    • Story Telleras Story Teller
    • (as Francis J. McDonald)
    William 'Wee Willie' Davis
    William 'Wee Willie' Davis
    • Garmiskaras Garmiskar
    • (as William Davis)
    John Miljan
    John Miljan
    • Lesh Lakishas Lesh Lakish
    Arthur Q. Bryan
    • Fat Philistine Merchant Wearing No Robeas Fat Philistine Merchant Wearing No Robe
    Kasey Rogers
    Kasey Rogers
    • Spectatoras Spectator
    • (as Laura Elliot)
    Victor Varconi
    Victor Varconi
    • Lord of Ashdodas Lord of Ashdod
    • Director
      • Cecil B. DeMille
    • Writers
      • Jesse Lasky Jr.(screenplay)
      • Fredric M. Frank(screenplay)
      • Harold Lamb(original treatment)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Though his people, the Israelites, are enslaved by the Philistines, Samson (Victor Mature), strongest man of the tribe of Dan, falls in love with the Philistine Semadar (Dame Angela Lansbury), whom he wins by virtue of a contest of strength. But Semadar betrays him, and Samson engages in a fight with her real love, Ahtur (Henry Wilcoxon), and his soldiers. Semadar is killed, and her sister Delilah (Hedy Lamarr), who had loved Samson in silence, now vows vengeance against him. She plans to seduce Samson into revealing the secret of his strength and then to betray him to the Philistine leader, The Saran of Gaza (George Sanders). —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
    impaled by spearlong haired mansamson characterdelilah charactercharacter names as title70 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • HISTORY'S MOST BEAUTIFUL AND TREACHEROUS WOMAN! (original print ad - all caps)
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Family
      • History
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For the scene in which Samson kills the lion, Victor Mature refused to wrestle a tame movie lion. Told by Producer and Director Cecil B. DeMille that the lion had no teeth, Mature replied, "I don't want to be gummed to death, either." The scene shows a stuntman wrestling the tame lion, intercut with close-ups of Mature wrestling a lion skin.
    • Goofs
      Just after Delilah rings for her servant to bring dinner, the mike boom casts a shadow on one of the curtain walls of her tent.
    • Quotes

      Samson: The oldest trick in the world. Silk trap, baited with a woman.

      Delilah: You know a better bait, Samson? Men *always* respond.

    • Crazy credits
      Although the opening credits mention "Holy Land Photography," the second-unit location shooting occurred in North Africa (Algiers and Morocco), not Israel or the Middle East.
    • Alternate versions
      Previous home media releases of the film (LaserDisc, VHS) did not include the overture and exit music. They were restored for Paramount's official DVD release in 2013 and the subsequent Blu-ray release in 2014.
    • Connections
      Featured in History Brought to Life (1950)
    • Soundtracks
      For To Win A Bride
      (uncredited)
      Written by Victor Young and Jesse Lasky Jr.

    User reviews78

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    My personal favorite Biblical movie.
    I first saw this as a kid in the early 80s n was blown away by the lion fight sequence n the climax scene of that of Dagon's towering idol.

    Saw many times aft that n coincidentally revisited it again on this Easter (04/04/21).

    This one is a classic action movie n i still found it very captivating.

    The film was very violent for its times. Samson using a jawbone of a donkey to crush skulls like eggs thru helmets is very brutal.

    The film's special effects are noteworthy and the most spectacular special effect in the film is the toppling of the temple of Dagon.
    helpful•15
    1
    • Fella_shibby
    • Apr 4, 2021

    FAQ1

    • Why did Samson choose Semadar instead of Delilah?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 21, 1950 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah
    • Filming locations
      • Bou-Saada, Algiers, Algeria
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 14 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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