Movie 6min

Samson and Delilah (1902)

Original title: Samson et Dalila
Biblical Parable in 8 pictures
Rating:

Facts
Director Ferdinand Zecca
Country France
Language French
Titles
(Country Spesific) Samson & Dalilah
(Original) Samson et Dalila
(Alternative) Sampson and Delilah
Production
Distribution
(USA, 1904) Pathé Frères
(France, 1902) Pathé Frères
(USA, 1905) S. Lubin
Other
(US importer) Pathé Frères
Categories
Angels Based on the Bible Biblical Drama Black and White Book of Judges Dance Drama Old Testament Samson and Delilah Short Silent Film Strength Suicide
Descriptions

This picture describes the well-known biblical story of Samson and Delila. The picture commences with Samson's visit to Gaza, a city of the Philistines. While there they closed the gates upon him and set watchmen to defend them, intending to put him to death on the following day. Samson slept until midnight, and then arose. Upon reaching the gates, he slew the watchman, pulled down the gates and carried them to the top of an adjoining hill, where he left them to the confusion and disappointment of the Philistines. After many feats of this kind, Samson permitted himself to become infatuated with a treacherous woman among the Philistines, named Delila. He revealed to her that the secret of his strength lay in the fact that, being a Nazarite, he never had cut his hair. After hearing this, she waited until Samson was asleep, and then having cut off his seven locks, called out that the Philistines were coming. Samson, on awakening, found his strength gone, and Delila, having called in the Philistines, they came in and put out her eyes. They then throw him into prison.

Source: Lubin Catalog


Four of the scenes are named by Juan Gabriel Tharrats: "Samson carries off the gates of Gaza", "Samson against the Philistines", "Delilah cuts Samson's hair" and "Collapse of the temple". He also mentions that the film was colored in Segundo de Chomón's studio in Barcelona. 3 of the original scenes did survive.

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Cast
Jeanne Noel - Dalila
Crew
Ferdinand Zecca - Director
Reviews
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Samson story of 1902

This version, the first in history, is not a bad retelling of the Samson story - with the focus on Samson and his strength. It's pretty amusing to see him lift the heavy door, although the wheel scene is a bit too long in its simplicity. In the temple scene, lots of extras were used, but the dancing here is all too long. Even so, this is pretty amusing and entertaining.