Watch Samson & Delilah

Samson & Delilah is a biblical drama miniseries that first aired on A&E in 1996. The miniseries stars Eric Thal as Samson, the mighty warrior chosen by God, and Elizabeth Hurley as Delilah, the beautiful and cunning Philistine woman who seduces Samson. It features an ensemble cast including Dennis Hopper, Diana Rigg, Michael Gambon, Daniel Massey, Paul Freeman, Ben Becker, Alessandro Gassmann, Debora Caprioglio, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Max von Sydow, and others.

The miniseries follows the biblical story of Samson from the Book of Judges. Samson is a Nazirite, blessed with immense physical strength by God. However, he is not to cut his hair or drink wine according to his vows. Samson rebels against his parents' wishes and falls in love with a Philistine woman named Delilah. She seduces him and discovers that the secret to his strength is his uncut hair. After Delilah betrays Samson by cutting his hair, he is captured by the Philistines who blind him and make him a slave. However, in a final act, Samson regains his strength and brings down the temple, killing his captors along with himself.

Throughout the miniseries, Samson is portrayed as a flawed hero, a child-like man with supernatural strength who follows God's calling, but also struggles with his desires and succumbs to temptation. Delilah is depicted as an opportunistic, manipulative woman who capitalizes on Samson's weakness for her to betray him for money and power. Their relationship highlights the themes of forbidden love, betrayal, and deception.

The miniseries brings the biblical story to life with its grand scale and cinematic visuals. Iconic scenes from Samson's life include the jawbone battle where Samson slays a thousand Philistines, Delilah's seduction and ultimate shearing of Samson's hair which robs him of his strength, Samson being captured and blinded by the Philistines, and the climactic destruction of the temple. The production design is immersive and transports viewers to the ancient Middle East.

While staying largely faithful to the source material, the miniseries does take some creative liberties in expanding on the Bible. It gives more back story to the main characters, adds original characters like Samson's brother and Delilah's handmaidens, and creates fictional subplots. However, the essence of the biblical tale and its timeless lessons about morality, human flaws, and faith remain intact.

Overall, Samson & Delilah provides a sweeping, cinematic adaptation of the classic Old Testament story. It brings together elements of action, drama, and romance led by charismatic performances from its lead actors. For audiences, it serves as an accessible and entertaining introduction to this iconic biblical saga. The lavish production and costumes add to the escapism, while retaining resonance with the mythic quality of the original source material.