- 1. The story of Samson and Delilah is a profound narrative from the biblical Book of Judges, encapsulating themes of strength, betrayal, and divine destiny. Samson, a Hebrew judge endowed with extraordinary strength, was a Nazarite, dedicated to God from birth. His remarkable feats included defeating a lion with his bare hands and single-handedly slaying a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. His immense power, however, was intrinsically linked to his uncut hair, symbolizing his covenant with God. Delilah, a beautiful Philistine woman, entranced Samson and ultimately became the instrument of his downfall. Seduced by the allure of wealth, she coaxed Samson into revealing the secret of his strength. Betrayed and shorn of his hair while he slept in her embrace, Samson was captured by the Philistines, who blinded him and made him a slave. Despite his suffering, the story culminates in a moment of redemption as Samson's strength is restored. In a climactic act of defiance, he pulls down the pillars of the Philistine temple, sacrificing himself to defeat his enemies, transforming betrayal into a final triumph that echoes the complexities of love and loyalty.
Who is Samson's lover?
A) Miriam
B) Ruth
C) Delilah
D) Naomi
- 2. What is the source of Samson's strength?
A) His armor
B) His uncut hair
C) His diet
D) His muscles
- 3. Which people captured Samson?
A) Israelites
B) Moabites
C) Ammonites
D) Philistines
- 4. What was the riddle Samson posed at his wedding?
A) What gets wetter as it dries?
B) What has four legs and can fly?
C) Out of the eater, something to eat
D) A ship without a sail
- 5. What did the Philistines do to Samson after capturing him?
A) Gouged out his eyes
B) Imprisoned him
C) Let him go
D) Killed him immediately
- 6. Where was Samson held captive?
A) In Bethlehem
B) In Gaza
C) In Jerusalem
D) In Jericho
- 7. How long did Samson judge Israel?
A) 20 months
B) 20 years
C) 40 years
D) 10 years
- 8. What animal did Samson kill with his bare hands?
A) A lion
B) A tiger
C) A wolf
D) A bear
- 9. What did the Philistines celebrate after capturing Samson?
A) Their god Dagon
B) The harvest
C) Their victory over Israel
D) Peace in the land
- 10. What was Samson's role among the Israelites?
A) Judge
B) Priest
C) King
D) Prophet
- 11. What emotion did Delilah use to manipulate Samson?
A) Fear
B) Greed
C) Love
D) Jealousy
- 12. What did the spirit of the Lord do for Samson?
A) Gave him peace
B) Spoke to him
C) Came mightily upon him
D) Left him
- 13. What did Samson do in the temple before bringing it down?
A) Danced
B) Screamed for help
C) Prayed to God
D) Sang a song
- 14. What did Samson use to kill a thousand Philistines?
A) The jawbone of a donkey
B) His bare hands
C) A sword
D) A spear
- 15. Who were Samson's parents?
A) Isaac and Rebekah
B) Zebulun and Leah
C) Manoah and his wife
D) Jacob and Rachel
- 16. Who produced and directed 'Samson and Delilah'?
A) Jesse L. Lasky Jr.
B) Cecil B. DeMille
C) Fredric M. Frank
D) Harold Lamb
- 17. Which actress played the role of Delilah in 'Samson and Delilah'?
A) Hedy Lamarr
B) Miriam Hopkins
C) Angela Lansbury
D) Loretta Young
- 18. Who was the Saran of Gaza played by in 'Samson and Delilah'?
A) Victor Mature
B) Richard Greene
C) George Sanders
D) Henry Wilcoxon
- 19. Which novel's film rights did DeMille also purchase for 'Samson and Delilah'?
A) The Book of Judges
B) Harold Lamb's original treatment
C) Vladimir Jabotinsky's 'Samson the Nazirite'
D) Biblical stories by various authors
- 20. In what year did pre-production on 'Samson and Delilah' begin?
A) 1935
B) 1950
C) 1948
D) 1926
- 21. Which film festival awarded Cecil B. DeMille for 'Samson and Delilah' in 1952?
A) Academy Awards
B) Cannes Film Festival
C) Film français Grand Prix
D) Golden Globe Awards
- 22. What was the wager Samson proposed at his wedding feast?
A) Thirty garments for solving a riddle
B) A pot of gold
C) A royal title
D) A trip to Jerusalem
- 23. What did Delilah use to seduce Samson and learn his secret?
A) Spiked wine
B) A love letter
C) Magic potions
D) An enchanted necklace
- 24. Who was the military governor of Dan who also courted Semadar?
A) Tubal
B) Prince Ahtur
C) Saran of Gaza
D) Miriam
- 25. Who was the father of Semadar in 'Samson and Delilah'?
A) Hazelelponit
B) Prince Ahtur
C) Tubal
D) Saran of Gaza
- 26. Who wrote the original film treatment for 'Samson and Delilah'?
A) Fredric M. Frank
B) Jesse L. Lasky Jr.
C) Harold Lamb
D) Cecil B. DeMille
- 27. Which actress did DeMille consider for the role of Samson in early production plans?
A) James Cagney
B) John Wayne
C) Henry Wilcoxon
D) Charles Bickford
- 28. Who did DeMille think could be the perfect Delilah in April 1936?
A) Grace Bradley
B) Dolores del Río
C) Claudette Colbert
D) Sally Rand
- 29. What convinced Paramount executives to approve Samson and Delilah?
A) A financial guarantee from DeMille
B) A sketch by Dan Groesbeck depicting the characters
C) Audience test screenings of a pilot episode
D) An endorsement from another director
- 30. Who did DeMille hire in spring 1948 to paint the 'ideal Delilah'?
A) Jeanie MacPherson
B) Dan Groesbeck
C) Harold Lamb
D) Henry Clive
- 31. Who did DeMille hire as a research coordinator in July 1948?
A) Dan Groesbeck
B) Henry Noerdlinger
C) Jeanie MacPherson
D) Harold Lamb
- 32. Which actress turned down the role of Delilah because she was too nice?
A) Lizabeth Scott
B) Vivien Leigh
C) Ann Sheridan
D) Rhonda Fleming
- 33. Who replaced Phyllis Calvert in the role of Semadar due to illness?
A) Jean Simmons
B) Hedy Lamarr
C) Angela Lansbury
D) Ruth Roman
- 34. What was William 'Wee Willie' Davis's role in the film?
A) The voice of an angel announcing Samson's birth
B) A Philistine spectator in the temple scene
C) Samson's friend who marries his first wife
D) Garmiskar, the Saran's wrestler who fights Samson
- 35. Which actress was given sixth billing after the five main stars?
A) Phyllis Calvert
B) Olive Deering
C) Hedy Lamarr
D) Angela Lansbury
- 36. What did Cecil B. DeMille describe as the 'one thread' that tied together Samson's life incidents?
A) The burning of crops by Samson
B) Samson the Nazarite
C) Delilah's betrayal
D) The riddle posed by Samson
- 37. Which actress was reportedly disappointed when Hedy Lamarr got the role of Delilah?
A) Yvonne De Carlo
B) Maria Montez
C) Lizabeth Scott
D) Vivien Leigh
- 38. Who was initially considered for the role of Miriam, the Danite girl who loves Samson?
A) Hedy Lamarr
B) Olive Deering
C) Kasey Rogers
D) Angela Lansbury
- 39. Who was the local professional wrestler cast as Garmiskar in 'Samson and Delilah'?
A) Henry Wilcoxon
B) Fredric M. Frank
C) William 'Wee Willie' Davis
D) Jesse L. Lasky Jr.
- 40. Which actress was seriously considered for the role of Delilah but found out she was very ill?
A) Vivien Leigh
B) Rhonda Fleming
C) Lizabeth Scott
D) Ann Sheridan
- 41. Who was the actress that 'cried into her tea cup' when Hedy Lamarr was cast as Delilah?
A) Lizabeth Scott
B) Rhonda Fleming
C) Yvonne De Carlo
D) Maria Montez
- 42. When did principal photography for 'Samson and Delilah' begin?
A) February 1949
B) December 22, 1948
C) October 4, 1948
D) January 4, 1949
- 43. Who visited the set of 'Samson and Delilah' in late October 1948?
A) Hedda Hopper
B) Cecil B. DeMille
C) Victor Mature
D) Virginia MacPherson
- 44. How did Cecil B. DeMille describe Hedy Lamarr?
A) Difficult to work with.
B) 'Unbelievably beautiful.'
C) A talented actress.
D) An excellent dancer.
- 45. Who performed the lion scene originally intended for Victor Mature?
A) Victor Mature himself.
B) Hedy Lamarr.
C) A stunt man.
D) Cecil B. DeMille.
- 46. What did Cecil B. DeMille urge Victor Mature to do during the scene where he was supposed to stalk the lion?
A) 'Talk softly to the lion.'
B) 'Stay still and observe.'
C) 'Get closer.'
D) 'Run away from the lion.'
- 47. What did Victor Mature call out during the scene where he was supposed to stalk the lion?
A) 'I'm your friend!'
B) 'Attack me now!'
C) 'Run away, lion!'
D) 'Nice kitty, nice kitty.'
- 48. What did Hedy Lamarr confide to Hedda Hopper about Victor Mature's feelings towards the lion?
A) 'Vic was leary about tangling with the critter.'
B) 'He didn't mind at all.'
C) 'He wanted to befriend the lion.'
D) 'He was excited and eager.'
- 49. When was the scene where Samson is blinded by the Philistines filmed?
A) February 1949
B) October 4, 1948
C) January 4, 1949
D) Late December 1948
- 50. What was the blade of the 'red-hot' sword prop made from?
A) Opaque plastic with a red neon bulb inside the tip.
B) Glass.
C) Wood.
D) Real metal.
- 51. Where did several costumes used in 'Samson and Delilah' originate from?
A) Morocco, including traditional caftans.
B) Egypt.
C) Greece.
D) Italy.
- 52. Who supervised the special effects for 'Samson and Delilah'?
A) Cecil B. DeMille
B) Gordon Jennings
C) Victor Mature
D) Hedy Lamarr
- 53. How much did it cost to shoot the toppling of the temple of Dagon?
A) $100,000
B) $200,000
C) $150,000
D) $50,000
- 54. How long did it take to shoot the toppling of the temple of Dagon?
A) A year
B) Six months
C) Two years
D) Three weeks
- 55. How many times was the model for the toppling of the temple destroyed?
A) Three times
B) Once
C) Never
D) Five times
- 56. By when had the film been completely edited?
A) January 21, 1949
B) July 1949
C) December 22, 1948
D) October 4, 1948
- 57. How did Paramount executives describe 'Samson and Delilah' after a sneak preview?
A) 'DeMille's masterpiece.'
B) A failure.
C) A disappointment.
D) An average film.
- 58. In which film does Cecil B. DeMille play himself?
A) Sunset Boulevard
B) Cleopatra
C) Samson and Delilah
D) The Ten Commandments
- 59. Who played Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard?
A) Bette Davis
B) Barbara Stanwyck
C) Gloria Swanson
D) Joan Crawford
- 60. What was the fictional silent film star's name in Sunset Boulevard?
A) Norma Desmond
B) Lillian Gish
C) Greta Garbo
D) Mary Pickford
- 61. Which director directed Sunset Boulevard?
A) Cecil B. DeMille
B) Billy Wilder
C) Frank Capra
D) Alfred Hitchcock
- 62. In which city did the televised world premiere of Samson and Delilah take place?
A) New York City
B) Hollywood
C) Chicago
D) Los Angeles
- 63. When did Samson and Delilah go into general release?
A) December 21, 1949
B) January 13, 1950
C) November 1959
D) May 23, 1949
- 64. Who among the following attended the televised world premiere of Samson and Delilah?
A) Bette Davis
B) Gloria Swanson
C) Joan Crawford
D) Mary Pickford
- 65. Who was one of the attendees at the premiere who later became known for his role in Universal Pictures?
A) Buddy Rogers
B) Barney Balaban
C) Cecil B. DeMille
D) Billy Wilder
- 66. When was Samson and Delilah successfully re-released?
A) January 13, 1950
B) December 21, 1949
C) November 1959
D) May 23, 1949
- 67. Which film's box office triumph led to the re-release of Samson and Delilah?
A) The Ten Commandments (1956)
B) Hercules (1958)
C) Quo Vadis (1951)
D) Ben-Hur (1959)
- 68. Which trade review described 'Samson and Delilah' as potentially the most impressive spectacle since 'The Ten Commandments'?
A) Boxoffice
B) Showmen's Trade Review
C) Harrison's Reports
D) Variety
- 69. Who did Variety praise for fitting neatly into the role of Samson in 'Samson and Delilah'?
A) Hedy Lamarr
B) George Sanders
C) Victor Mature
D) Henry Wilcoxon
- 70. Which film critic admired the use of color in 'Samson and Delilah'?
A) The Modern Screen
B) Bosley Crowther
C) Leonard Maltin
D) Variety
- 71. How much did 'Samson and Delilah' earn in theatrical rentals during its initial release?
A) $9 million
B) $8 million
C) $7.5 million
D) $10 million
- 72. How much did 'Samson and Delilah' earn during its theatrical reissue in 1959?
A) $4 million
B) $3 million
C) $1.5 million
D) $2.5 million
- 73. Who described 'Samson and Delilah' as a tremendously entertaining film?
A) Leonard Maltin
B) Bosley Crowther
C) Variety
D) The Modern Screen
- 74. Which magazine declared 'Samson and Delilah' would be classed with the big films of all time?
A) Boxoffice
B) Harrison's Reports
C) The Exhibitor
D) Showmen's Trade Review
- 75. What award did DeMille receive in March 1950 for Samson and Delilah?
A) Boxoffice Barometer Trophy
B) All Industry Achievement Award
C) Best Picture of the Year
D) Parents' magazine medal
- 76. Which trophy did DeMille receive in December 1950 for Samson and Delilah?
A) All Industry Achievement Award
B) Parents' magazine medal
C) Best Picture of the Year
D) Boxoffice Barometer Trophy
- 77. In which poll was Samson and Delilah ranked as the 4th Best Picture?
A) The Country Gentleman magazine's ninth annual poll
B) AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions
C) AFI's 10 Top 10
D) Look's Annual Film Awards
- 78. In which year was Samson and Delilah nominated for AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions?
A) 2005
B) 1982
C) 2013
D) 2002
- 79. In which year was Samson and Delilah nominated for AFI's 10 Top 10 as an Epic Film?
A) 1979
B) 2008
C) 2014
D) 1950
- 80. When was Samson and Delilah first released on VHS by Paramount Home Video?
A) 1988
B) 1979
C) 1990
D) 1981
- 81. What year did MCA DiscoVision plan to release Samson and Delilah on LaserDisc before it was scrapped?
A) 1982
B) 1978
C) 1990
D) 1979
- 82. In what year did the first LaserDisc edition of Samson and Delilah finally get released?
A) 1992
B) 2014
C) 1982
D) 1978
- 83. When was the digital restoration of Samson and Delilah completed?
A) 2012
B) 1982
C) 2014
D) 1979
- 84. Where did the restored version of Samson and Delilah premiere in 2012?
A) Cineteca Bologna's Il Cinema Ritrovato
B) Look's Annual Film Awards
C) Paramount Home Media Distribution
D) AFI Awards
- 85. On what date was Samson and Delilah released on DVD by Paramount Home Media Distribution?
A) March 12, 2013
B) March 11, 2014
C) 1982
D) December 1950
- 86. When was Samson and Delilah released on Blu-ray Disc?
A) 1988
B) March 11, 2014
C) 1979
D) March 12, 2013
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