In the line of the Cecil B. de Mille's biblical epics, "Samson and Delilah" tells the story of the strong Hebrew judge that fought his people's oppressors. No doubt that de Mille's usual luxurious and expensive touch is in this film and it is clear once more that the man didn't care about expenses whenever he entered a project and so the movie doesn't lack a sense of greatness and spectacle.
The special effects are excellent for 1949, mainly the final sequences when a blind Samson demolishes the pagan temple with the only strength of his arms. There is also a fine musical score by Victor Young.
Though not too gifted when it came to acting Hedy Lamarr was indeed a beautiful woman and she comes out acceptably as the treacherous Delilah. Victor Mature (Samson) -a good choice as for his physical presence- overacts as he usually did, most noticeably in the action sequences in which he doesn't look too comfortable. George Sanders brings an interesting performance as the "Saran" carrying the role of a ruler with dignity and class, and a young Angela Lansbury is good as Delilah's sister Semadar, "Samson and Delilah" turns out as an entertaining and watchable film in its genre though, in my opinion, inferior to the almost contemporary "Quo Vadis" by Mervin Leroy or de Mille's later product "The Ten Commandments" in which he was aided by an all star cast.
The special effects are excellent for 1949, mainly the final sequences when a blind Samson demolishes the pagan temple with the only strength of his arms. There is also a fine musical score by Victor Young.
Though not too gifted when it came to acting Hedy Lamarr was indeed a beautiful woman and she comes out acceptably as the treacherous Delilah. Victor Mature (Samson) -a good choice as for his physical presence- overacts as he usually did, most noticeably in the action sequences in which he doesn't look too comfortable. George Sanders brings an interesting performance as the "Saran" carrying the role of a ruler with dignity and class, and a young Angela Lansbury is good as Delilah's sister Semadar, "Samson and Delilah" turns out as an entertaining and watchable film in its genre though, in my opinion, inferior to the almost contemporary "Quo Vadis" by Mervin Leroy or de Mille's later product "The Ten Commandments" in which he was aided by an all star cast.