Samson and Delilah Movie Review (2024)

Parents need to know that Samson and Delilah is an Oscar-winning 1949 epic drama based on the intense Bible story of revenge and regret. Set in 1,000 B.C., it tells the story of Samson (Victor Mature), a man with super strength who is targeted by the cruel Delilah (Hedy Lamarr). Her scheme is successful and he is imprisoned and blinded but she is finally overcome with guilt. The movie has violence throughout, which ranges from a character's eyes being burned out (off-screen) to big brawls with Samson throwing the scenery at hordes of soldiers. One scene features a fight with a real lion, which looks uncomfortable for both the lion and the stunt actor (the scene ends with what seems to be a real dead lion on-screen). Although Delilah proves to be a capable and cunning adversary to the super-strong Samson, some of the language and behavior toward the female characters feels problematic by today's standards. There are also actors who wear makeup to portray darker-skinned characters and one little person -- there are many in the film -- plays a jester, which can perpetuate stereotypes that characters of such stature are figures of amusement and ridicule.

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Violence & Scariness

a lot

Samson has super strength and uses it to fight and kill many Philistine soldiers, occasionally with blood shown. He throws people at people, as well as rocks, marble slabs, trees, and a burning table. He also proves his strength by killing a lion with his bare hands in a long scene that looks uncomfortable for both the stunt actor and the real lion. The lion's mouth is prised open and it is held by its throat. Soldiers then examine what looks like a real dead lion. Soldiers terrorize people, including children and an elderly man, whose is pushed down and has his face trampled into mud. Prisoners are tormented, whipped, and attacked. One has their eyes burned out with a hot sword. Some people are killed by spears. A mother hits her adult son with a wooden spoon and breaks it. A sheep is picked up by its four feet and thrown into a cart. Delilah spikes Samson's drink. Panic, chaos, and death occur when a packed temple collapses. A man threatens to strangle a woman, another says he'll burn down a building to kill her. Mention of a woman chained to a post and whipped, and a rampaging army killing babies.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

a little

Some flirting and a character behaves seductively. Two characters kiss. Mild innuendo.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

very little

Characters drink wine at a wedding. A character's drink is spiked with a powder to knock them out.

Positive Messages

very little

Characters use deception to get their own way, sometimes for good and sometimes with deadly results. The movie has themes of regret, guilt, and forgiveness. Characters defeated in battle are mocked by their superiors.

Positive Role Models

very little

Samson is a cunning, confident, and sometimes cocky man with super strength. He chooses to marry a woman from the group oppressing his people, siding with love over the views of his society. He kills people in revenge but also sometimes shows forgiveness. He kills a lion with his bare hands to prove his strength. He discourages a partner from crying, ignoring her emotions. Semadar is the Philistine woman Samson wants to marry. Semadar's sister, Delilah, is impulsive and adventurous. She is jealous when Samson chooses Semadar to be his wife and stirs up trouble that results in deaths in her family. She blames Samson and is cruel and calculating in her revenge but is ultimately overtaken by feelings of guilt.

Diverse Representations

Flagged for concern

Some White actors wear makeup to play dark skinned characters. A little person plays a jester and a group of little people torment, snare, and cut a prisoner in a battle arena. Samson has a low view of women, calling them "emotional" as a negative.

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