Scooping Oscars for its sets and costumes, this thumping epic prompted veteran American critic Pauline Kael to suggest that Cecil B DeMille considered God to be his co-director. Victor Mature stars as the biblical hero whose strength lies in the length of his hair, while Hedy Lamarr brings a gorgeous woodenness to the role of the Philistine, whose jealousy over Samson's fondness for Angela Lansbury leads to treachery. The fight with the lion is so lousy it's brilliant, while the oily villainy of George Sanders provides the only acting highlight. Mature played Samson's father in the 1984 TV-movie remake.

When strongman Samson rejects the love of the beautiful Philistine woman Delilah, she seeks vengeance that brings horrible consequences they both regret.