Samson and Delilah *** (1949, Hedy Lamarr, Victor Mature, George Sanders, Angela Lansbury, George Sanders, Henry Wilcoxon, Olive Deering) – Classic Movie Review 6862

Hedy Lamarr appears as Delilah opposite Victor Mature’s Samson in Cecil B DeMille’s lurid romantic biblical epic film Samson and Delilah in 1949. Lamarr has a great time playing ‘HISTORY’S MOST BEAUTIFUL AND TREACHEROUS WOMAN!’  It was much derided but it proved to be Paramount Pictures’ most profitable movie till that time, bringing in $28,800,000 in rentals from US cinemas on a budget of $3,000,000.

So it is a hunky Mature as strongman Samson and sexy Lamarr as beautiful Philistine woman Delilah in DeMille’s typically exuberant, over-the-top, big-budget epic. At a little more than two hours – it runs 131 minutes (or 134 minutes with overture and exit music) – it qualifies as short and fast-paced for a DeMille epic movie, but by any other standards it is a trifle stuffy, musty and ponderous, with plodding and conventional handling.

There is nothing spared in terms of cost or expertise to re-create the feel of the Old Testament, but the glossy costumes, eye-catching sets by Hans Dreier and Walter Tyler, fine score by Victor Young, Technicolor cinematography by George Barnes and Dewey Rigley and spectacular effects cannot entirely rescue the daft narration (by DeMille), heavy-handed direction and some overstated, barely adequate performances.

However, the less seriously you take it, the more entertaining it can be, and certainly stars Mature, Lamarr, Angela Lansbury (Semadar), George Sanders (the Saran of Gaza), Henry Wilcoxon (Prince Ahtur) and Olive Deering (Miriam), plus the amazing character cast, seem to be enjoying themselves enormously in this biblical balderdash.

Samson and Delilah won two Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Costume Design, Color, and there were three other Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography, Color, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture and Best Effects, Special Effects.

Muscleman Steve Reeves was offered the part of Samson, but did not want to try to shed the 20lbs Cecil B DeMille thought necessary.

The screenplay is written by Jesse L Lasky Jr and Fredric M Frank, and is based on the biblical Book of Judges.

The cast are Hedy Lamarr as Delilah, Victor Mature as Samson, George Sanders as The Saran of Gaza, Angela Lansbury as Semadar, Henry Wilcoxon as Prince Ahtur, Olive Deering as Miriam, Fay Holden as Hazelelponit, Julia Faye as Hisham, Russ Tamblyn as Saul, William Farnum as Tubal, Lane Chandler as Teresh, Moroni Olsen as Targil, Francis McDonald as Storyteller, Wee Willie Davis as Garmiskar, John Miljan as Lesh Lakish, Arthur Q. Bryan as Fat Philistine Merchant, Laura Elliot as Spectator, Victor Varconi as Lord of Ashdod, John Parrish as Lord of Gath, Frank Wilcox as Lord of Ekron, Russell Hicks as Lord of Ashkelon, Boyd Davis as First Priest,, Fritz Leiber as Lord Sharif, Mike Mazurki as Leader of Philistine Soldiers, Davison Clark as Merchant Prince, George Reeves as Wounded Messenger, Pedro de Cordoba as Bar Simon, Frank Reicher as Village Barber, Colin Tapley as Prince, Charles Evans as Manoah, Harry Woods as Gammad, Gordon Richards as Guide and Cecil B DeMille as Narrator.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6862

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