Samson and Delilah (1984 film)
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Samson and Delilah (1984 film dvd cover).jpg
| image_size = 150
| image_alt =
| caption = DVD cover
| genre = Adventure
Fantasy
Action
| creator =
| based_on = {{Based on|Husband of Delilah|Eric Linklater}}
| writer = John Gay
| screenplay =
| story =
| director = Lee Philips
| starring = Max von Sydow
Belinda Bauer
Antony Hamilton
Daniel Stern
Victor Mature
| narrated =
| music = Maurice Jarre
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_episodes =
| executive_producer = Gregory Harrison
| producer = Franklin R. Levy
| editor = George Jay Nicholson
| cinematography = Gerry Fisher
| runtime = 95 minutes
| company = Catalina Productions
| budget =
| network = ABC
| released = {{Start date|1984|04|01}}
}}
Samson and Delilah is a 1984 television film adaptation of the biblical story of Samson and Delilah directed by Lee Philips and starring Max von Sydow, Belinda Bauer, Antony Hamilton, Daniel Stern and Victor Mature. Mature played Samson in the 1949 film and had a small cameo as the father of Antony Hamilton's Samson. This was his final acting role. Based on the 1962 novel Husband of Delilah by Eric Linklater, Samson and Delilah originally aired on ABC.
Plot
The film is mostly the same as the original Biblical story, but with notable differences such as, once again, the expanded and sympathetic role of Delilah (Bauer), the introduction of the garrison commander (Stern) who is friends with Samson (Hamilton), more focus upon Samson's relationship with his first wife, a different handling of the 30 garments bet, and, perhaps the most crucial alteration of the climax. In the original story, maintained in the 1949 film and the 1996 film, Samson only regains his strength after his hair has grown long again, thus allowing him to tear down the Philistine temple. In this movie, however, Samson is taken to the Philistine temple just after his hair has been cut short, and he prays to God to restore his immense strength despite his short hair, and God complies, allowing Samson enough strength to tear down the stone pillars, thus destroying the temple. Delilah is saved through what looks like the intervention of God. She brings Samson back to his tribe to be buried.
Cast
- Antony Hamilton as Samson
- Belinda Bauer as Delilah
- Angélica Aragón as Nija
- David Byrd as Elon
- David S. Eisner as Arin
- José Ferrer as The High Priest
- Jennifer Holmes as Varinia
- Stephen Macht as Maluck
- Victor Mature as Manoah
- Clive Revill as Raul
- Rene Ruis as The Temple Man
- Maria Schell as Deborah
- Brandon Scott as The Magician
- Daniel Stern as Micah
- Max von Sydow as Sidka
Production
Mature says he told the producer "I'll play Samson's father if the price is right."{{Cite news|title=CRITIC AT LARGE: MATURE STILL HAS A HUNK OF A TIME|author=Champlin, Charles|date=Mar 29, 1984|work=Los Angeles Times|page=m1}} It was entirely shot in Mexico.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/480353/samson-and-delilah#overview|title=Samson and Delilah}} Monty Cox trained the male African lion in this production.
Accolades
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" | ||||
| Year
! Award ! Result ! Category ! Recipient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Emmy Award | rowspan=2|Nominated | Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling | Jan Van Uchelen[https://www.emmys.com/shows/samson-and-delilah Television Academy] |
| 1985 | BAFTA Award | Best Short Film | Mark Peploe |
In other media
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0088036|Samson and Delilah}}
{{Lee Philips}}
{{Samson}}
Category:1984 television films
Category:American television films
Category:Films based on British novels
Category:Films directed by Lee Philips
Category:Films with screenplays by John Gay (screenwriter)