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DELUGE (1933)

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the American science fiction film. For the Polish historical film, see The Deluge (film).
Deluge

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Felix E. Feist
Written by Warren B. Duff
John F. Goodrich
Based on Deluge
by S. Fowler Wright
Produced by Sam Bischoff
Starring Peggy Shannon
Sidney Blackmer
Lois Wilson
Matt Moore
Fred Kohler
Cinematography Norbert Brodine
Edited by Martin G. Cohn
Rose Loewinger
Music by Val Burton
Production
company
Admiral Productions
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release date
August 13, 1933
Running time 70 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $171,000
Deluge is a 1933 American apocalyptic science fiction film, directed by Felix E. Feist, and released by RKO Radio Pictures.

The film is very loosely based on the 1928 novel of the same name by S. Fowler Wright, with the setting changed from the United Kingdom to the United States. It follows a small group of survivors after a series of unexplained natural disasters erupt around the world and destroy civilization, including a massive tsunami which inundates New York City.

PLOT:
Scientists discover that a violent storm is heading toward New York City and begin the warning process throughout the city. They believe that something is wrong with the natural barometric patterns and that an unprecedented event is imminent. A sudden eclipse of the sun verifies their speculations, and it seems that global destruction is near. Telegraph messages from Rome and London explain days of unending earthquakes and state "The End of the World is at Hand." Tremendous earthquakes hit the United States West Coast, killing millions, and it is reported that the entire west coast of the United States has been destroyed. The earthquakes have also caused major tsunamis in the world's oceans and disaster is just moments away.

Martin Webster and his wife Helen prepare for the oncoming disaster by gathering their children, Ronny and Mary Ann, and some essentials and head for a high rock formation to escape the floods. Martin leaves Helen and goes back to their house to get more food and clothes, but the destruction of New York begins while he is on his journey. Buildings crumble from earthquakes and large tsunamis strike the city. Martin returns to find his wife and daughters are nowhere to be found. Isolated on a newly formed island near the former site of New York City in the aftermath of the disaster, the grief-stricken Martin, who believes that Helen and the children died in the disaster, builds a cabin and tries to survive on his own, hiding supplies in a tunnel.

Surviving in a cabin on the outskirts of another island in what had been New York City are two ruffians, Jephson and Norwood. They find world-class swimmer Claire Arlington unconscious and washed up on the shore outside their cabin. As she recovers, the men start feuding over her and become very possessive of her. When she is attacked, Claire flees and swims away, leaving the men angry and vengeful. Jephson kills Norwood and begins to search for her in a boat, vowing to bring her back. Claire reaches Martin's island in a state of exhaustion and collapses. Martin finds her, takes her back to his cabin, and nurses her back to health. Martin and Claire become good friends and eventually fall in love.

Meanwhile, survivors have gathered together nearby on the same island to form a town and start civilization again. Among the survivors is Martin's wife, Helen, and their two children. Tom, the town's leader, had found Helen in a poor state of health in the aftermath of the disaster, and has been taking care of her ever since. He has also fallen in love with her and asks her to marry him, but Helen is convinced that Martin is still alive and turns Tom down.

Jephson arrives on the island and finds Martin's tunnel. He then encounters a gang of thugs — which had been driven out of the town for committing crimes such as rape and theft — run by a man named Bellamy. Jephson tells the Bellamy gang about the tunnel and Claire. Jephson eventually finds Martin and Claire, subdues Martin in a violent fight, and kidnaps Claire, taking her to the Bellamy gang's hideout. As Jephson is about to rape Claire, Martin sneaks into the camp and rescues her. Martin and Claire then hide in the tunnel, but Jephson and the Bellamy gang follow them there. Finding that Martin is armed, Jephson orders the gang to set a fire at the entrance of the tunnel to force Martin and Claire out. After that plan fails, Jephson enters the tunnel and becomes involved in a fight with Martin, during which Claire kills Jephson with a spiked club. Meanwhile, a band of vigilantes led by Tom tracks the gang to the tunnel, rescues Martin and Claire, and brings them to the town.

In the town, Martin is reunited with Helen and their children and tells Helen about his relationship with Claire. Martin explains to Claire how he is in love with both his wife and with her and that he will not choose between them. Martin's and Helen's continued commitment to one another devastates Claire and Tom. Helen visits Claire and they have a painful discussion in which Claire says she will not give up Martin.

Finding the town plagued by ugly disputes over the distribution of goods, Martin organizes an auction and establishes a successful monetary system for the community. Martin is elected the town's mayor. When Claire sees Martin with Helen at a town meeting, her heart breaks and she runs to the ocean and swims out to sea. Martin is left on shore watching her go.

CAST:
Peggy Shannon as Claire
Sidney Blackmer as Martin
Lois Wilson as Helen
Matt Moore as Tom
Fred Kohler as Jepson
Ralf Harolde as Norwood
Edward Van Sloan as Prof. Carlysle
Samuel Hinds as Chief Forecaster

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