EDITOR’S NOTE: Samson and Delilah was on the CBS Late Movie on March 24, 1989 and March 23, 1990.
Based on Husband of Delilah by Eric Linklater, this made-for-television movie stays true to the original Biblical story of the legendary Israelite hero (Antony Hamilton) gifted with supernatural strength, but it isn’t just a straight rehash. It takes its time to flesh out the narrative, with notable differences: we get an expanded, deeply sympathetic look at Delilah (Belinda Bauer), a fascinating new garrison commander (Daniel Stern) who is friends with Samson, and a much deeper focus on Samson’s relationship with his first wife. The handling of the famous thirty garments bet is tweaked, and then we hit the climax, which completely alters how the legendary finale plays out. In the traditional telling—seen in both the classic 1949 Cecil B. DeMille version and the 1996 adaptation—Samson regains his strength only after his hair has grown back, allowing him to pull down the Philistine temple. Here, however, Samson is dragged to the temple right after his hair is sheared off. He prays directly to God to restore his immense strength anyway, and God complies on the spot, granting him the power to shatter the stone pillars and bring the house down. In a final twist, Delilah is miraculously spared by what feels like divine intervention, ultimately carrying Samson’s body back to his tribe for burial.
Plus, you get José Ferrer as the High Priest, Max Von Sydow as Sidka and Victor Mature as Manoah, Samson’s father. This casting is an absolute stroke of cinematic genius because Victor Mature himself played Samson in the legendary 1949 Cecil B. DeMille version of Samson and Delilah. Passing the torch to a new generation by playing the father? Love it.
This was directed by Lee Phillips, who also made The Spell and The Girl Most Likely to… It was written by John Gay, who also wrote the screenplay for No Way to Treat a Lady.
You can watch this on Tubi.
