Samson and Delilah (1996 film)

Samson and Delilah
dvd cover
Directed by	Nicolas Roeg
Produced by	Lorenzo Minoli, Gerald Rafshoon
Written by	Allan Scott
Starring	Eric Thal Dennis Hopper Elizabeth Hurley Diana Rigg Michael Gambon
Narrated by	Max Von Sydow
Edited by	Michael Ellis
Release dates	December 8, 1996
Running time	172 minutes
Country	Germany/Italy/United States
Language	English

Samson and Delilah is a German/Italian/American telefilm that was first shown on TNT in the USA. It was directed by Nicolas Roeg. The lion is a puppet from Jim Henson's Creature Shop. This biblical movie was shot in Morocco.

The Italian actor Giorgio Francesco Palombi was one of the film's stunt performers. He later appeared in TNT's Biblical television movie, David, as Goliath of Gath.

Story

Samson is chosen by God to destroy the Philistines, who have occupied the land of Canaan. He is given the greatest strength ever known to man as long as he remains true to his vow and its conditions, yet he still is not convinced of his purpose, preferring instead to spend his time with Philistine company. He eventually falls in love with a Philistine girl, decides to marry her, but is betrayed by her on his wedding day. He soon learns she was blackmailed by the Philistine lords who are plotting his demise, and goes to reclaim her, but she has been murdered along with her entire family.

Meanwhile, a treacherous courtesan of the king, Delilah, is convinced of her ability to bring even the mighty Samson to his knees. She appeals to Samson as a beautiful woman, and Samson is immediately taken with her. They begin the relationship of two passionate lovers, and Delilah convinces Samson of her love, ultimately seducing him into telling her the secret of his strength. Samson is thus at last captured by the Philistines, who blind him and make him into a slave, forcing him to grind grain at a millstone. At the celebration of his and his kingdom's defeat, he is brought in chains to be both an example and entertainment to his captors. Unbeknownst to them, his strength has returned, and as he stands between the two pillars that support the building, he asks God for forgiveness. He then pushes against the pillars, collapsing the building and killing those inside, including himself. Delilah, who was present in the temple, also dies as well.

Cast

External links

• Samson and Delilah at the Internet Movie Database

Samson
Cultural depictions	Art Samson Slaying a Philistine (Giambologna) The Blinding of Samson (Rembrandt) Samson and Delilah (Rubens) Samson and Delilah (van Dyck, 1620) Samson and Delilah (van Dyck, 1630) Comics Black Samson Doc Samson Mighty Samson Samson Film Samson (1914) Samson and Delilah (1922) Samson and Delilah (1949) Samson (1961) Samson and Delilah (1984) Samson and Delilah (1996) Literature Samson Agonistes (Milton) Music Samson (Handel) Samson and Delilah (Saint-Saëns) Samson and Delilah (traditional song) Sam and Delilah (Gershwin) Samson (Emly Starr) Delilah (The Dresden Dolls) Samson (Regina Spektor) Television Samson & Goliath
Other	Bedan Crane Delilah Manoah Wife of Manoah Hazelelponi Samson's riddle Rabbinic literature Rock of Etam Samson Option (book) Samson Unit Samson coat of arms USS Samson