Film & TV

The Story of Samson and Delilah in Opera and Film

Saint-Saens’s opera and DeMille’s film tell the biblical story of a strong man with one weakness.
The Story of Samson and Delilah in Opera and Film
Samson (Victor Mature) and Delilah (Hedy Lamarr), in “Samson and Delilah.” Paramount Pictures/MovieStillsDB
Tiffany Brannan
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The pages of classic literature are filled with famous love stories—some historical and some fictional. Such names as Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, and Tristan and Isolde come to mind. One story which stands out for its tumultuous and complex nature is the biblical tale of Samson and Delilah.

Although their story fills only one brief chapter of the Bible, it has become a mainstay of Western culture, being retold countless times. Two of the most famous theatrical adaptations are the three-act French opera “Samson et Dalila” by Camille Saint-Saens and Cecil B. DeMille’s film 1949 masterpiece, “Samson and Delilah.”

‘Samson et Dalila’

Saint-Saens’s opera covers only the events in Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges, namely, Samson’s association with Delilah and his subsequent betrayal, imprisonment, and death.
Tiffany Brannan
Tiffany Brannan
Author
Tiffany Brannan is a 24-year-old opera singer, Hollywood historian, vintage fashion enthusiast, and journalist. Her classic film journey started in 2016 when she and her sister started the Pure Entertainment Preservation Society to reform the arts by reinstating the Motion Picture Production Code. Tiffany launched Cinballera Entertainment in June 2023 to produce original performances which combine opera, ballet, and old films in historic SoCal venues. She's written for The Epoch Times since 2019 and became the host of a YouTube channel, The Epoch Insights, in June 2024.
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