Cecil B. DeMille on the Set of Samson and Delilah and the Story of the Olive Branch

November 26, 1948

On this day, The Ponca City News out of Ponca, Oklahoma, shared a story about the famous director Cecil B. DeMille. 

I'll paraphrase it here:

While filming Samson and Delilah, Cecil wanted to film a scene under an olive tree.

He quickly called for the film's nurseryman and said:

"Hang another olive branch on that limb. It's pretty bare there.”

 

As the nurseryman attached a leafy branch to the tree, Cecil shouted,

“That’s NOT an olive branch!"

The nurseryman cautiously replied,

“I’m sure it is, sir.”

 

Cecil snapped back,

“I’m sure it's NOT. A four-year-old child could tell you that's not from an olive tree. Where did you get it?”

 

The nurseryman humbly answered,

“I clipped it from the backside of that olive tree.”

 

Suddenly, there was complete silence.

After a few seconds, Cecil said,

“I don’t suppose I am in a position to say this is not an olive tree.”

“No sir,” answered the nurseryman... 

 

And the scene went on.