| Photos (see all 6 | slideshow) |
| Eric Thal | ... | Samson | |
| Elizabeth Hurley | ... | Dalila | |
| Michael Gambon | ... | Re Hamun | |
| Dennis Hopper | ... | Generale Tariq | |
| Diana Rigg | ... | Mara | |
| Daniel Massey | ... | Ira | |
| Paul Freeman | ... | Manoach | |
| Ben Becker | ... | Principe Sidqa | |
| Jale Arikan | ... | Noemi | |
| Deborah Caprioglio | ... | Rani | |
| Alessandro Gassman | ... | Amrok | |
| Pinkas Braun | ... | Harach | |
| Sebastian Knapp | ... | Yoram | |
| Karl Tessler | ... | Jehiel | |
| Luke Mullaney | ... | Amram | |
| Tim Gallagher | ... | Habor | |
| Matt Green | ... | Yoram Giovane | |
| Mark McGann | ... | Mahal | |
| Nick Simons | ... | Capraio | |
| Jonathan Rhys Meyers | ... | Sansone a 14 anni | |
| Luke de Lacey | ... | Cephod | |
| Anthony Ofoegbu | ... | Prigioniero | |
| Mary Hanefey | ... | Ancella | |
| Keith Allen | ... | Carceriere | |
| Zakaria Atifi | ... | Carceriere | |
| Salah Benmoussa | ... | Cortigiano | |
| Abdellah Lamrani | ... | Cortigiano | |
| Larbi Sassi | ... | Cortigiano | |
| Fatima Watili | ... | Levatrice | |
| George Hall | ... | Anziano | |
| Mustapha Salamat | ... | Uomo villaggio | |
| Amina Ouardi | ... | Donna nomade | |
| Abderrahim Daris | ... | Soldato | |
| John Forbes-Robertson | ... | Medico | |
| Mark Seaton | ... | Prigioniero | |
| Mahjoub Raji | ... | Bracciante | |
| Leo Gregory | ... | Jehiel a 14 anni | |
| Tobias Saunders | ... | Amram a 14 anni | |
| Christian Toulali | ... | Ospite nozze (as Christian Anderson) | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Max von Sydow | ... | Narratore (voice) (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Nicolas Roeg | |||
Writing credits(in alphabetical order) | ||
| Allan Scott | writer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Marco Frisina | |||
| Ennio Morricone | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Raffaele Mertes | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Michael Ellis | |||
Casting by | |||
| Ahmed Boulane | |||
| Chiara Meloni | |||
| Cornelia von Braun | |||
| Jeremy Zimmerman | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Paolo Biagetti | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Titus Vossberg | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Enrico Sabbatini | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Leila Ben Barka | .... | makeup artist | |
| Franco Casagni | .... | makeup artist | |
| Claudia Catini | .... | hair stylist | |
| Hayat Ouled Dahhou | .... | hair stylist | |
| Anna De Santis | .... | hair stylist: second unit | |
| Francesca De Simone | .... | hair stylist | |
| Federico Laurenti | .... | makeup artist | |
| Tracy Lee | .... | makeup artist: Ms. Hurley | |
| Elda Magnanti | .... | key hair stylist | |
| Vincenzo Mastrantonio | .... | makeup artist: second unit | |
| Mario Michisanti | .... | key makeup artist | |
| Tiziana Sisi | .... | makeup artist | |
| Latifa Souihi Maadani | .... | makeup artist (as Latifa Souhili) | |
| Gianna Viola | .... | hair stylist | |
Production Management | |||
| Ahmed Darif | .... | production manager: Morocco | |
| Fabiomassimo Dell'Orco | .... | production manager | |
| Roberto Malerba | .... | production manager | |
Art Department | |||
| Tatiana Hahn | .... | assistant to set decorator | |
| Luciano Magagnini | .... | property master | |
| Roberto Magagnini | .... | swing gang | |
| Giancarlo Sensidoni | .... | painter | |
Sound Department | |||
| Oliver Barth | .... | dialogue editor | |
| Bernard Bats | .... | sound recordist | |
| Pierre-Yves Bruneel | .... | boom operator | |
| Tim Chilton | .... | foley artist | |
| Bob Costanza | .... | sound editor | |
| Patrick Cyccone Jr. | .... | sound re-recording mixer (as Patrick Cyccone) | |
| Tommy Goodwin | .... | foley mixer | |
| G. Michael Graham | .... | supervising sound editor | |
| Kristi Johns | .... | adr editor | |
| Christian P. Minkler | .... | sound re-recording mixer (as Chris Minkler) | |
| Lou Thomas | .... | sound effects editor (uncredited) | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Daniel Acon | .... | special effects coordinator | |
| Renato Agostini | .... | special effects coordinator | |
| Claudio Quaglietti | .... | special effects | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| Tim Baxter | .... | optical effects | |
Stunts | |||
| Cornelia Allendorf | .... | stunts | |
| Omero Capanna | .... | stunts | |
| Bruno Di Luia | .... | stunts (as Bruno Riccardo di Luia) | |
| Gérard Lesage | .... | stunts | |
| Philippe Losson | .... | stunts | |
| Riccardo Mioni | .... | stunts | |
| Stefano Maria Mioni | .... | stunts | |
| Alessandro Novelli | .... | stunt performer | |
| Emiliano Novelli | .... | stunt performer | |
| Benito Pacifico | .... | stunts | |
| Giorgio Francesco Palombi | .... | stunts (as Giorgio Palombi) | |
| Cedric Proust | .... | stunts | |
| Joel Proust | .... | stunt coordinator | |
| Fabio Ragusa | .... | stunts | |
| Rocco Russo | .... | stunts | |
| Franco Maria Salamon | .... | stunt coordinator (as Franco Salamon) | |
| Alessandro Scepi | .... | stunts | |
| Claudio Zucchet | .... | stunts | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Armando Barberi | .... | second assistant camera | |
| Fabio Capozzi | .... | electrician | |
| Giovanni Cuomo | .... | grip | |
| Valter De Filippis | .... | generator operator | |
| Sebastiano De Pascalis | .... | Steadicam operator | |
| Pietro Fabbri | .... | grip | |
| Giovanni Galasso | .... | gaffer | |
| Luca Luparini | .... | camera operator: second unit | |
| David Massaro | .... | assistant camera: second unit | |
| Marcello Montarsi | .... | camera operator | |
| Roberto Moreschini | .... | key grip | |
| Camillo Sabatini | .... | first assistant camera | |
| Sergio Strizzi | .... | still photographer | |
| Riccardo Tonni | .... | clapper loader | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Romano Amidei | .... | set costumer | |
| Alfredo Bocci | .... | set costumer | |
| Ahmid Brahim | .... | tailor | |
| Antonia Chimera | .... | set costumer | |
| Nezha Dakil | .... | seamstress | |
| Antonella Gori | .... | set costumer | |
| Simonetta Leoncini | .... | assistant to costume designer | |
| Prospero Molfese | .... | set costumer: second unit | |
| Adalgisa Mosca | .... | set costumer | |
| Giulia Orsacchiotto | .... | seamstress | |
| Uliva Pizzetti | .... | assistant to costume designer | |
| Giovanni Viti | .... | assistant to costume designer | |
| Jo Thorpe | .... | wardrobe assistant (uncredited) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Mags Arnold | .... | assistant editor | |
Music Department | |||
| Paola Gigli | .... | assistant music editor | |
| Carla Simoncelli | .... | music editor | |
Transportation Department | |||
| Driss Benchhiba | .... | transportation coordinator | |
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Although their story in the Old Testament only spans three chapters in the Book of Judges, the popular tale of Samson and Delilah is stretched out into a three hour entry mini series here. All the characters (many not mentioned by name in the scriptures) are elaborated upon, as is the situation between the Israelites and the Philistines. The Gaza court is well (if a bit predictably) portrayed: Michael Gambon as wise King Hanun is constantly bickering with his hotheaded (and red bearded) son Sidqa (Ben Becker). Well cast Liz Hurley plays the part of Delilah both slutty and posh as the king's niece, while top billed Dennis Hopper portrays the smart and sarcastic General Tariq. Hopper gets some of the best lines, but fails to give them that George Sanders delivery and is the only one looking out of place in these settings and costumes.
Delilah only really figures in the last part of Samson's story, but there are enough scenes featuring her and the Philistines to justify her name in the title. Actually, the two main characters almost meet in part one, where she turns out to be the main reason why Samson fought that animatronic lion from Jim Henson's Creature Shop. In the title role, Eric Thal is a virtual babe magnet himself, rescuing the outspoken Naomi (Jale Arikan) before choosing a Philistine bride (Deborah Caprioglio) to the dismay of his parents (reliable Diana Rigg and Paul Freeman). Screenwriter Alan Scott put great emphasis on Samson's search for a purpose in life, making him comes across a very modern (i. e. constantly worried) hero.
One point repeatedly made in the Book of Judges is the lawless nature of this time period (between 1200 - 1000 b.c.). This is addressed in a new sub plot concerning the brothers Jehiel and Amram. They betray Samson in order to become rulers themselves, leading to the familiar scene involving the jawbone of an ass. Most of these action sequences are filmed with skewed angles, making Samson look even more like a comic book superhero. To this effect they could not show him mishandling 300 foxes to burn down enemy crops (as it was written). Unfortunately the chapter about tearing the town gates from their hinges is more implied than shown, but this does lead to an interesting bit of foreshadowing for Dennis Hopper's character in the temple.
Director Nic Roeg makes effective use of flashbacks during two crucial scenes, adding greater meaning to both of them. First the love scene between Samson and Delilah is interwoven with scenes from the lion fight and secondly Samson relives his ultimate betrayal when forced to 'witness' the defeat of the Israelite army. The latter scene also resolves the plot strand concerning Jehiel and Amram in a satisfactory way and indeed every character arc is neatly resolved before the end. Shame about all those bouncing foam pillars during the climax though.
8 out of 10