Samson and Delilah (1949 film)

Samson and Delilah
Original theatrical release poster
Directed by	Cecil B. DeMille
Screenplay by	Jesse L. Lasky Jr. Fredric M. Frank Harold Lamb
Based on	Judge and Fool, a novel by Vladimir Jabotinsky Holy Bible (Book of Judges)
Produced by	Cecil B. DeMille
Starring	Hedy Lamarr Victor Mature George Sanders Angela Lansbury Henry Wilcoxon
Cinematography	George Barnes
Edited by	Anne Bauchens
Music by	Victor Young
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release dates	December 21, 1949 (1949-12-21) (New York City) January 13, 1950 (1950-01-13) (Los Angeles)
Running time	134 minutes[1] (with overture and exit music)
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2.9[2]–3.1 million[3]
Box office	$25.6 million[4]

Samson and Delilah is a 1949 American romantic biblical drama film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and released by Paramount Pictures. It depicts the biblical story of Samson, a strongman whose secret lies in his uncut hair, and his love for Delilah, the woman who seduces him, discovers his secret, and then betrays him to the Philistines. It stars Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr in the title roles, George Sanders as the Saran, Angela Lansbury as Semadar, and Henry Wilcoxon as Prince Ahtur.

Pre-production on the film began as early as 1935, but principal photography officially commenced in 1948. The screenplay, written by Jesse L. Lasky Jr. and Fredric M. Frank, is based on the biblical Book of Judges and adapted from an original film treatment by Harold Lamb, also drawing from Vladimir Jabotinsky's 1927 novel Samson the Nazarite.

Upon its release, the film was praised for its Technicolor cinematography, lead performances, costumes, sets, and innovative special effects.^[5][6][7] After premiering in New York City on 21 December 1949, Samson and Delilah opened in Los Angeles on 13 January 1950. A massive commercial success, it became the highest-grossing film of 1950, and the third highest-grossing film ever at the time of its release. Of its five Academy Award nominations, the film won two for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.^[8]