Samson and Delilah (1949 film)

Samson and Delilah
Original theatrical release poster
Directed by	Cecil B. DeMille
Produced by	Cecil B. DeMille
Screenplay by	Jesse L. Lasky, Jr. Fredric M. Frank Harold Lamb (treatment) Vladimir Jabotinsky (novel)
Based on	Holy Bible (Book of Judges)
Starring	Hedy Lamarr Victor Mature George Sanders Angela Lansbury Henry Wilcoxon
Narrated by	Cecil B. DeMille
Music by	Victor Young
Cinematography	George Barnes
Edited by	Anne Bauchens
Production company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	December 21, 1949 (1949-12-21) (New York City premiere) January 13, 1950 (1950-01-13) (Los Angeles premiere)
Running time	128 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$3,097,563 or $2.9 million
Box office	$25,600,000

Samson and Delilah is a 1949 American romantic religious epic 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 Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature in the title roles, George Sanders as the Saran, Angela Lansbury as Semadar, and Henry Wilcoxon as Ahtur.

Preproduction 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 original film treatments by Harold Lamb and Vladimir Jabotinsky.

Praised upon release for its Technicolor cinematography, lead performances, costumes, sets, and innovative special effects, the film was a box-office success. It was the highest-grossing film of 1950. Of its five Academy Award nominations, the film won two for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.