A rumbling, gurgling: thriller, titled 'Deluge,' unfolds Itself a little clearer after being found in better shape. For years you could not see it anywhere, then a subtitled version in fair shape was found in Italy. Then in 2016 a composite dupe negative was discovered and a better, though not perfect copy is now available. But what of the content, is it a good film?SPOILERS:After starting in 1933 (pre-Code) USA with the actions of alarmed meteorological experts and then showing what purport to be major coastal cities demolished by earthquakes and a flood, "Deluge," turns to melodramatic villainy and romance. It is remarkable how soon the few remaining mortals regain their composure after the world disaster and become quite interested in living in caverns and shacks. There is the handsome but not precisely brainy hero who battles with a rugged scoundrel to save a fair college graduate, presumed at the time to be the only woman alive in that part of the world.Most of the incidents in this rumbling and gurgling thriller occur somewhere about forty miles from "where New York City was." Martin Webster, the stop-look-and- listen hero, tells Claire Arlington, the pale, blonde co-ed and marvelous swimmer in panties and bra, that they cannot be far from where his country home once stood. Martin has lost his wife and two children, or thinks he has. Being a brave young chap, however, he succeeds in forgetting them and falls madly in love with Claire. It would seem that Claire is happy, until a shooting affray starts. The vile Jephson and his fierce underlings fortunately decide not to continue the attack in the day, but to wait for night. It is nothing short of a miracle (or script writing) how Martin and Claire elude Jephson.And just when Martin tells other survivors found at a settlement that Claire is his wife, he learns that the charming Mrs. Webster and her youngsters are alive and well. This leads to a certain acidity on Claire's part, but she decides to do the gallant thing in the end, by swimming out to sea. In fact, she is called upon to do a great deal of long-distance swimming throughout this melodrama.The best moments in the film are those concerned with the excited weather men and scientists. The destruction of skyscrapers is never particularly real and the rushing waters seem strangely out of focus at times. The dialogue never rises above the action of the story and the players deserve sympathy.Bottom line: It's more important to see this once lost oddity with low budget but massive model and miniature work than to celebrate it's story and acting. See it with low expectations and you'll be impressed until you get bored.

The history of this once-lost classic film (now available on DVD) is fascinating, but it's nothing compared to the film itself.Running about 70 minutes, this disaster movie gets right to with the destruction of most of the world by earthquakes and tsunamis. Much early footage shows the flooding of New York City and the toppling of skyscrapers. Yes, these are obviously models and yes there is a good deal of rear projection, but just go with it. It's pretty impressive.After the apocalypse, it seems old mountain areas have been spared and there are survivors. Martin (Sidney Blackmer) has been separated from his wife (Lois Wilson) and kids. Claire (Peggy Shannon) has washed up on a beach and found by a demented loner Jepson (Fred Kohler). There's also a ragtag village in the mountains run by Tom (Matt Moore) and a group of marauders whose main goal seems to be stealing women.All these disparate people come together after Claire escapes from Jepson and is rescued by Martin. Jepson joins up with the marauders and they go after Martin and Claire. Enter Tom and the villagers.The ending is a real surprise and raises the question of what laws and rules should survive the Apocalypse and carry over into the New Society. What is man's purpose after civilization has been destroyed? How does man move on? Peggy Shannon and Sidney Blackmer are good in a very understated way. So are Matt Moore and Lois Wilson. This is definitely a must-see for fans of science fiction and disaster movies, but keep in mind the small budget this film was made on. You'll be thinking about this film long after it has ended.

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.

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.