''Samson and Delilah'' 1949 - art by Klaus Dill

A vintage movie poster of ''Samson and Delilah'', a 1949 American biblical epic film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Hedy Lamarr as Delilah... more

by Movie World Posters

Title

''Samson and Delilah'' 1949 - art by Klaus Dill

Artist

Movie World Posters

Medium

Mixed Media - Vintage Movie Posters

Description

A vintage movie poster of ''Samson and Delilah'', a 1949 American biblical epic film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Hedy Lamarr as Delilah and Victor Mature as Samson. The film is a classic example of the epic genre, known for its grand production values, lavish sets, and dramatic storytelling. It is based on the biblical story of Samson and Delilah from the Book of Judges in the Old Testament.

Here are some key elements of the film:

Samson (Victor Mature): Victor Mature plays Samson, a strong and powerful Hebrew who possesses extraordinary physical strength due to his uncut hair, which is a symbol of his commitment to God. Samson becomes a leader among his people, and his story revolves around his conflicts with the oppressive Philistines.

Delilah (Hedy Lamarr): Hedy Lamarr portrays Delilah, a beautiful Philistine woman who becomes Samson's love interest and ultimately his downfall. Delilah is a seductive and cunning character who conspires with the Philistine rulers to discover the source of Samson's strength and betray him.

Biblical Epic: "Samson and Delilah" is set in ancient biblical times and is known for its opulent production design and costume design. The film features grandiose sets and epic battle scenes that were typical of the biblical epic genre popular during the mid-20th century.

Romance and Betrayal: The film explores the romantic relationship between Samson and Delilah, which is marked by passion and intrigue. Delilah's betrayal of Samson, driven by her loyalty to the Philistines, becomes a central point of tension in the story.

Themes of Faith and Redemption: The film incorporates themes of faith, divine intervention, and redemption, as Samson's tragic story ultimately leads to a redemptive moment of sacrifice.

Special Effects and Spectacle: "Samson and Delilah" is notable for its special effects, particularly in the depiction of Samson's feats of strength and the climactic destruction of the temple. These sequences were groundbreaking for their time and contributed to the film's success.

"Samson and Delilah" was a significant box office success and won two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. It is remembered as one of Cecil B. DeMille's iconic biblical epics, alongside films like "The Ten Commandments." The film's portrayal of the legendary biblical characters, its opulent visuals, and its exploration of themes of love, betrayal, and redemption continue to make it a notable entry in the genre of biblical epics.

Klaus Dill's posters are powerful, bold, and energetic. Influenced by his career as a western comics illustrator, his posters also absorbed this predominant strong and adventurous spirit. Dill's painting style is realistic in depicting faces, delineated with great attention to shading, lighting, and contrasts between dark and bright tones.

However, the depiction of bodies makes his work incredibly powerful: Dill paints plastic, three-dimensional volumes. He molds his characters as if they were sculptures. Under his shaping brushstrokes, actors and actresses take on physical substance.

About the artist:

Klaus Dill (October 6, 1922, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Germany – February 19, 2002, Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany) was a film poster painter and graphic designer.

Along with his two brothers and a sister, Dill grew up in the home of his grandfather, who ran a housewares shop. His father was a highly talented artist who worked in the advertising department at BASF. He encouraged and supported his son’s drawing attempts, giving him pointers and corrections. Inspired by the books he read, Dill was particularly fond of drawing cowboys and Indians of the American West.

At the age of 17, Dill enrolled at the exclusive Städelschule art academy in Frankfurt am Main. Today, the school accepts only about 20 students each year from over 500 applicants. About 75% of the students are from outside Germany.

Dill was forced to leave school in 1941 after getting drafted as a radio operator by the German army. His two brothers died in the war, while he survived after being taken prisoner by the Soviets in 1945. He returned home in 1949 to resume his studies, in spite of losing eight years of his artistic development.

He enrolled at the renowned art and design academy, Werkkunstschule (today's HfG Hochschule für Gestaltung), where his career as a painter of Western movie posters began. The German magazine Prinz called him "the German Hollywood painter."

Although Dill was a nephew of the well-known impressionist painter Otto Dill, his uncle never tutored or promoted him. By the time Otto died in 1957, Klaus had already become a recognized painter.

During Klaus’s time at the Werkkunstschule, he received his first film and book commissions, creating his first film poster for a Western in 1952. He was also commissioned by novelist Joachim Rennau to design dust jackets for his novels. In addition, he began designing covers for other books, including Zane Grey's stories.

On the 150th anniversary of German novelist Karl May in 1992, the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" newspaper called Dill "the best German western painter."

Search by the artist's last name to see more of their art.

Uploaded

April 18th, 2021