SAMSON AND DELILAH - 1949 - (VICTOR MATURE) - Everyone is familiar with the Old Testament Bible story of the mighty Samson and the treacherous Delilah, and how the strongman was robbed of his powers once the biblical femme fatale sheared off his locks. This 1949 version is retold in splashy Cecil B. DeMille style, with Technicolor that practically jumps off the screen and larger-than-life portrayals all around. The gorgeous Hedy Lamarr plays the vindictive Delilah to Victor Mature's Samson. Mature uses his expressive features to full advantage, melting hearts as the vulnerable Samson sans curls. TEN COMMANDMENTS - 1956 - (CHARLTON HESTON) - Legendary silent film director Cecil B. DeMille didn't much alter the way he made movies after sound came in, and this 1956 biblical drama is proof of that. While graced with such 1950s niceties as VistaVision and Technicolor, The Ten Commandments (DeMille had already filmed an earlier version in 1923) has an anachronistic, impassioned style that finds lead actors Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner expressively posing while hundreds of extras writhe either in the presence of God's power or from orgiastic heat. DeMille, as always, plays both sides of the fence as far as sin goes, surrounding Heston's Moses with worshipful music and heavenly special effects while also making the sexy action around the cult of the Golden Calf look like fun. You have to see The Ten Commandments to understand its peculiar resonance as an old-new movie, complete with several still-impressive effects such as the parting of the Red Sea. --Tom Keogh * NOTE: THESE SPECIAL EDITION IMPORT DVDS FEATURE: 1. ALL REGION PLAYABILITY (PLAYS IN ALL COUNTRIES), 2. THEIR ORIGINAL ENGLISH LANGUAGES, 3. AN ENGLISH DVD MENU, 4. OPTIONAL ENGLISH OR CHINESE SUBTITLES (ON/OFF)
