Deluge


1h 10m 1933

Film Details

Genre
Disaster
Fantasy
Release Date
Aug 18, 1933
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
K.B.S. Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Deluge; A Romance by S. Fowler Wright (London, 1927).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 10m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels

Synopsis

While escaping the apocalyptic floods and earthquakes that are sweeping across the earth, Martin Webster is separated from his wife Helen and children, Ronny and Mary Ann, and is stranded on a newly formed island, located somewhere near the now devastated New York City. At the same time, Claire Arlington, a champion long-distance swimmer, is found unconscious on another island by two ruffians, Norwood and Jephson, who carry her to their cabin. Months later, after Norwood and Jephson begin to fight over her, Claire flees from the men and swims toward Martin's island. Although followed by Jephson in a boat, Claire reaches the island's shore safely, then collapses with exhaustion. Martin, who has secreted a load of supplies in a tunnel, takes Claire to his cabin and nurses her back to health. When Jephson finally arrives on the island, he stumbles onto Martin's tunnel, then runs into Bellamy and his gang, thugs who also inhabit the island. Still determined to find Claire, Jephson tells Bellamy's gang, who had been driven from a nearby village for raping and stealing, about the tunnel and his missing "woman." Unknown to Martin, Ronny, Mary Ann and a sickly Helen are being cared for in the village by Tom, the unofficial village leader. In spite of Tom's urging that she marry, Helen refuses to accept Martin's death and turns down Tom's proposal. Martin, however, falls in love with Claire and, assuming that Helen is dead, makes her his common law wife. Eventually Jephson discovers Martin's whereabouts and, after a brutal fight, abducts Claire and takes her to the Bellamy hideout. As Jephson is about to rape Claire, Martin sneaks into the Bellamy camp and rescues her. Martin and Claire then hide in the tunnel but are followed there by Jephson and the gang. In an attempt to force the armed Martin and Claire out of the tunnel, Jephson orders that a fire be lit at the tunnel's entrance. When the couple remains in the tunnel, Jephson enters and, while fighting Martin, is killed with a spiked club by Claire. At the same time, Tom and a band of vigilantes track the gang to the tunnel and bring Martin and Claire to their village. There, Martin reunites with Helen and confesses to her his relationship with Claire. To deal with village unruliness and greed concerning the distribution of goods, Martin organizes an auction and establishes an effective monetary system for the community. After Martin is elected "mayor" by the townspeople, Claire, who has declared to Helen that she cannot give up her common law husband, swims out to sea.

Film Details

Genre
Disaster
Fantasy
Release Date
Aug 18, 1933
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
K.B.S. Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Deluge; A Romance by S. Fowler Wright (London, 1927).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 10m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels

Quotes

Trivia

For a number of years this was a "lost film" until a badly dubbed Italian release print was discovered.

Notes

Although a print of this film was not viewed, the above onscreen credits were taken from a cutting continuity deposited with the copyright records. The copyright entry for this film lists Admiral Productions, Inc. as "author" of the picture. The onscreen credits, however, refer to the film as "a Kelly Bischoff Saal Production" and make no mention of Admiral. Reviews list the production company as K-B-S Productions, the corporate title of associate producer Bischoff's company. The connection between Admiral and K-B-S has not been determined. Motion Picture Herald's "In the Cutting Room" states that collaborators Richard Cosgrove and Russell Lawson "actually make the yarn," but the nature of their contribution has not been determined. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, John Marston was to play the film's lead. The Variety reviewer noted that the film used "process stuff" during the disaster sequence.