Reviews & Ratings for
Deluge More at IMDbPro »

6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Disturbing disaster film rescued from the abyss, 25 December 2004

Author: Chung Mo from NYC

I saw this soon after a print was discovered in an Italian film vault. No one had subtitled it as of yet. The theater, Film Forum, here in New York City, hired an Italian translator to keep the audience up on the dialog and story.

It's remarkable how many films from the past 20 years were prefigured by this film. In a way, the "Day After Tomorrow" could be considered a remake. The destruction of New York is quite harrowing, actually more harrowing then the stupid "Day After Tomorrow". The special effect people orchestrated numerous shots that show masses of people perishing in the collapse of the city. And it's not in that distanced way that removes the human element from the horror. Actors are integrated into the effect work in creative ways. A recent example would be the monster films of Shusuke Kaneko. After the city has completely crumbled, the ground breaks open and the wreckage falls into a crevice. Then a tsunami inundates the remaining ruins! Yikes!

The rest of the film is done in a typical early 30's melodramatic style. Judging from the other comments here, the translator sort of soft-pedaled the racy parts. The film didn't hold up very well here but I think this could very well be the first post-apocalyptic film ever made.

5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Remarkable early special effects film, 24 January 2001
Author: Chappie-4 from Herndon, Virginia

As a young man in the early 30's I attended a small theater in Brooklyn, NY showing the film Deluge. The memory of the devastation depicted in the film has remained with me through the years. I feel that a similar film made today, with all the special effects, would not have the impact felt at that time.

Of course there are many films from that era which are well remembered today while Deluge did not stand the test of time that I feel it deserved.

Years later I read an article concerning films that were lost due to deterioration and Deluge e was mentioned. We can all be indebted to IMDb for providing an opportunity to rediscover films such as Deluge.

5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
A Highly unusual film! See it if you can!!, 24 January 2000

Author: George R. Willeman from Culpeper, VA

I have always wondered about the disappearance of "Deluge". Why for so many years, seemingly since it's release in 1933, this film vanished from the face of the earth. After seeing it, courtesy of the efforts of Mr. Wade Williams & Co., I'm still puzzled, but I have a theory. In 1933, "the code" was enacted that pretty much took care of sex and violence in Hollywood. While not an explicit film by any means, "Deluge" does deal fairly frankly with sexuality, lust and rape. I wonder if RKO discovered they had a film that they could not re-release, much like the fabled lost Warner Bros. comedy "Convention City". It's a shame for, while it is a dated film, I find it quite unique and surprising for it's era and a fairly successful attempt to create something different in an era when films were already becoming cookie cutter by-products of the studio machine (not that many of those cookies aren't tasty, mind you). And even though the only available copy at this writing is dubbed into Italian, I don't find that a hinderance. An excellent job was done in subtitling the film, and much of the film is visual anyway. One thing that is somewhat bothersome: IMDb lists the running time as 70 minutes--the tape's running time is 59 minutes. What's missing?? Something so heinous that even the Italian censors couldn't let it be shown? The mind boggles! By the way, I have recently heard that the French film archive holds a copy of this film as well...I wonder....in Anglais, mais non?

5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
HOLLYWOOD'S FIRST END OF THE WORLD DISASTER FILM, 14 January 2000
Author: danr51 from San Francisco, CA

Back at the start of the "talkies", in 1933, RKO Studios produced this compelling vision of the Earth destroyed by natural disasters. Until recently, this was a lost film, all prints of it presumed gone. I managed to obtain a VHS copy of this, essentially, low budget production directed by Felix Feist. For cinema historians, this is highly recommended viewing; just don't expect CGI perfection, for we're talking decades before our glorious computers were invented.

The first twenty minutes are the most terrifying I can recall. For apparently no rhyme or reason, scientists discover that the Earth's weather has drastically changed: The barometers are dropping rapidly, the wind velocity is increasing, and a mysterious, unscheduled solar eclipse has occurred. Unlike most science-films, no pseudo-scientific explanations are offered. the world's officials and citizens are thoroughly baffled and horrified. To worsen the disturbing mystery, Earthquakes and tidal waves then break out, destroying and sinking most of the land on our planet, leaving the world a vast ocean with millions dead.

The spectacular sequence of the destruction of New York is spellbinding and memorable. Though the effects are naturally dated, they are nevertheless convincing and frightening. Buildings crumble, people perish and a tremendous flood buries the world's largest city (though some may not consider that to be any great tragedy). The sense of doom and dread convey an overpowering deluge. The film's title conveys a double meaning; a gigantic flood and a state of being overwhelmed. As the tag line reads, EARTH IS DOOMED! And that's no phoney promo, DELUGE lives up to its hype. A one of a kind effort and an early experiment in special-effects.

The story's opening is directed in an eerir Twilight Zone manner. Believable dialogue and an astute lack of sopomoric jargon enhance its credibility and effectiveness. A totally impossible nightmare plagues the human race, and no one knows how or why. Obviously, no solution to the bizzare occurance prevails. Reality and illusion converge with catastrophic results. Its grim, somber tone is undeniable and unrelenting. They don't make paranoia like they used to.

However, the film's main drawback is that once the devastation is over, the excruciating tension diminishes and we're left with a standard tale of a group of survivors marooned on a strip of land that still remains above water, a few miles away from where New York once was. Though not bad (remember it was still the first of its kind), it still pales considerably compared to the powerful and unforgettable opening.

If DELUGE had concentrated solely on the catastrophie, and the suspenseful events leading up to it, it could have been a great classic. As it is, it's still quite a unique effort (considering its low budget) and an interesting curio. Perhaps Irwin Allen saw this back in his childhood.

Check this out, but don't expect an Industrial Light and Magic enterprise and Harrison Ford. We're talking nearly seventy years ago. It was 'Famous Monster's' Forrest J. Ackerman who uncovered the only known existing print (way back in the eighties) dubbed in Italian and sub-titled, giving it a foreign film cinema verite appearence. Very honorable deed, Forrey, but why did you wait so long to tell us?

4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Early Hollywood "End of the World" Film Quite Good, 6 March 2002
Author: Mike Cloud from Houston, TX

I read about this movie years ago but thinking that no prints existed, only recently looked for a rental copy. It was much better than reviews lead me to believe. The destruction of New York City was quite convincing especially when the earth opened up and the ocean rushed in. The screenwriters were smart not to offer any explanation for the disaster. Perhaps this was due to time and budget constraints. The scientists' bewilderment added to the tension.

The survivors' story was credible even though the lead characters were somewhat stupid. Martin and Claire spent the night in a tunnel knowing full well that armed men were coming for them at first light. They could have easily escaped during the night.

The story had several gaps probably due to lost or deteriorated film. How did Martin become separated from his wife and children? Why did each think the other was dead? The Statue of Liberty was still standing at the end of the storm sequence. Did it survive?

The Italian dialog was distracting and the English subtitles did not convey everything that was spoken. There was something said about Louisiana sinking and New Orleans being flooded. When survivors in the settlement cannot raise anything on the radio, a boy says to an adult, "Now you can be the fire chief". I'm going out on a limb and say the boy is referring to comedian Ed Wynn who portrayed the Texaco Fire Chief on an early radio program. This must have been very confusing to foreign audiences.

The actress who played Claire, Peggy Shannon, was strikingly beautiful with a modern look not normally seen in movies of that period. How sad that she died of alcoholism just 8 years after the movie was released.

3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
The destruction of New York is quite breath taking, 13 June 1999

Author: dls-3 from Toronto, Ontario Canada

I only heard about this movie about two weeks ago as I was checking some distributors of science fiction movies. I enjoy sci fi movies of the 60's and before so this fell right into my lap.

I bought this movie as a matter of fact today and have seen the collapse of New York 3 times today. No doubt I will be seeing it a few more times before I can put it to rest.

Seeing the destruction of New York puts a lump in my throat. Even though this movie is what is considered a disaster film using paper mache models, it looks quite impressive and real. The special effects don't leave too much to the imagination. See the Empire State Building crumble in a flash as well as every other skyscraper and then watch the city get washed over by the Hudson River.

This movie is quite tragic. Here we have a hero (Sidney Blackmer) who was very good to his wife and children and supposedly they had been lost by the earthquake and tidal wave.

Then he meets the swimmer (Peggy Shannon). They have their trials because like any other disaster movie, there are the good guys (the people who are trying to rebuild their lives and help each other, respect each other), and then there are the renegades who try to force their will on others through violence and gangs.

3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Frightening Historical Gem, 25 February 2003
Author: danm99 from San Francisco, CA

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

For a long time, I had read bits about this very strange early 'talkie film', and it did arouse my artistic curiosity. There was constant mention of DELUGE being another one of those "forever lost films", but a copy did (no pun intended) surface, and I finally was able to see this very early and interesting cinematic end-of the-world rarity.

The suspenseful beginning is genuinely scary, in spite of its preposterous science: Puzzled scientists discover that the world's weather is going through some pretty weird changes - and that a menacing global storm is brewing on the horizon. The writing and sincere acting makes it all seem quite credible and possible. But that's not all: Major earthquakes and massive floodings begin to mysteriously occur (Did a very young Irwin Allen ever see this?) - and the ocean levels start rising rapidly. (Was this an allegorical profecy of Global Warming?). I very much liked the "flaw"; being that no pseudo-scientific explanation for the disaster is offered. It adds that bizarre 'twilight zone' touch, where suspension of disbelief can drive you to questioning your own beliefs.

The whole world is thrown into a state-of-alarm as all air flights are grounded and shipping is haulted (Almost an eerie foreshadowing of 9/11). Then continents begin to sink into the ocean (though we only hear about it from chilling urgent news bulletins, which seems to ominously predate the 'This is only a Test' nuclear/scare broadcasts that began in the bleak paranoid 'McCarthy-Era' fifties).

The character focus then switches to an "average" married couple (Is there really such an animal?) as they flee to a grotto (confused as to why they'd go there to seek hopeful safety, but then this is a movie, where character, theme and riveting plot are the keynotes. Common sense can go to hell. Movies weren't really doing much different then than they are now). The radio broadcasts (this was way before the invention of that notorious tube) grimly instruct NYC residents to quickly evacuate as the overwhelming meteorlogical horrors approach. (As the film's logo states - EARTH IS DOOMED!).

Then comes the crucial scene that DELUGE earned its niches of historical film fame for - the tremendous earthquake capped by a gigantic tidal wave, that catastrophically destroys and buries New York under the vast ocean that has now blanketed most of the Earth. (Nothing like double-standards, isn't there?). Naturally, the simple yet oddly spectacular FX are dated, but nonetheless, I found them to be quite shuddery, and was able to suspend any trifling disbelief. Seeing NYC crumble as the earth rips open, with the almighty ocean pouring in, is quite scary on its own offbeat terms. (Can anyone pronounce "DEEP IMPACT" & "ARMEGEDDON"?). Back then, filmmakers were forced to rely on creative ingenuity and they utilized much imaginative resourcefulness and personal intimate touches which skillfully brought the nightmares up close and deeply personal. Any Questions?

My only main complaint is that all this harrowing mayhem occurs within the first twenty minutes. I dig plots that immediately engage and moooooove, but this was stretching that storytelling ethic a bit too much. You could have easily (with tons of backbreaking and nerve-frazzling work) produced the entire film about the disasterous build-ups to THE END.

Obviously, that would have required a high-budget and expensive FX that were still in their infant but inspired level - but what a terrifying science-fiction horror thriller it could have been! I honestly have doubts that todays upgraded technical FX would have that personal creepiness that this admirable effort fearfully evokes in its dark foreboding ways. Also, the "updated" script would undoubtably be crammed with stupid cliched dialogue and one-dimensional sterotyped characters you couldn't care less about.

Later, Republic Studios purchased DELUGE for that ruthless purpose of using the destruction scene for seriel and B-movie stock footage; which hence accounts for the film' "loss". They most likely threw the rest of the footage into the can, clever boys.

Unfortunately, the rest of the story is about the fate of a handful of survivors, struggling to live-as-best on a small portion of land that was spared the great plunge. We have a gang of violent renegades out to make hell for the heros (That's what heros are there for), as well as raping and murdering the women, which happens offscreen, making its repelling inferences that much more ugly. This was still brutally daring for the early 3O's, but this was also back in that so-called pre-code era.

Most impressive character was the gorgeous swimmer played by the equally gorgeous Peggy Shannon, who, sad to say, died untimely a few years later from acute alcoholism. Her atypical (especially for the time) character might interest feminists, for she excellently portrays an attractive young adventuresome woman who is also tough enough to hold her own - quite ahead of the time. (Can anyone say Anne Heche?).

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILER. The conclusion, though, was not that usual formulaic happy ending, obviously made to make you think - and that can be quite disturbing sometimes. I urge, particularily film historians or anyone interested in Hollywood's very first end-of-the-world movie, to give this strange early science-fiction effort a wild, reverent look.

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Remarkable rescue of "lost" film, 26 February 2010

Author: petrilloi from United States

Pretty interesting film with a downbeat ending. The special effects are great for 1933. By the way, the box INCORRECTLY lists running time of 59 minutes! This version actually is 67 minutes. It is unfortunate that it is dubbed (if it hadn't been found in Italy it might have retained its soundtrack). Still its great to have at all. Thank God for Forry Ackerman! We'll never see his like again. He and the late Bill Everson were truly irreplaceable Film researchers. Where in our disposable subculture will we find people interested in knowing about things that happened before a year or two ago. The internet age has wreaked havoc with fact-finding and accurate information. If you don't browse, you will never know anything beyond the narrow scope of search engine results.

2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
remembrance of film, 31 March 2003
Author: canscene from Canada

I saw this film in England in 1934 at the age of 16 and was highly impressed with the special effects. Oddly enough Sydney Blackmer played the hero in this although in many other films he was cast in villainous roles. Remember him as the "kindly" neighbour in Rosemary's Baby?

I had read the book only a year or so before seeing the film and was absolutely flabbergasted with the disaster scenes. In view of our knowledge of global warming, a remake might well be highly topical and thought provoking.

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