Before the Deluge

Before the Deluge (1954)

Drama

The title of this French "reality" drama, which translates to Before the Deluge, is a play on Louis XVI's famous prognostication, "Apres moi, le deluge." Set in 1950, the film concentrates on five Parisian adolescents. Certain that the next war will herald the apocalypse, the youngster make plans to run off to a desert island and set up a new society. This, however, will require money, which is why the boys decide to pull off a "necessary" robbery. Idealism collapses in the face of cold reality, as the five youths suffer from the consequences of their actions. Avant le Deluge was one of a group of films cowritten by director Andre Cayatte and Charles Spaak which endeavored to explore the touchy social issues of the day: others in the Cayatte-Spaak canon include the euthanasia-themed Justice est Faite and the capital-punishment tract Nous sommes tous des assassins.

Director: André Cayatte
Writers: Charles Spaak, André Cayatte.

Casts

	Antoine Balpêtré as Albert Dutoit
	Paul Bisciglia as Jean-Jacques Noblet
	Bernard Blier as Marcel Noblet
	Marina Vlady as Liliane Noblet
	Jacques Chabassol as Jean Arnaud
	Clément Thierry as Philippe Boussard
	Jacques Fayet as Richard Dutoit
	Roger Coggio as Daniel Epstein
	Jacques Castelot as Serge de Montesson
	Léonce Corne as Le commissaire Auvain
	Paul Frankeur as Monsieur Boussard
	Isa Miranda as Françoise Boussard
	Carlo Ninchi as Le président du tribunal
	Delia Scala as Josette
	Line Noro as Madame Arnaud
	Albert Rémy as Le garçon de café
	André Valmy as L'autre inspecteur de police
	Julien Verdier as Le veilleur de nuit
	Maria Zanoli as Madame Dutoit
	Marcel Pérès as l'inspecteur Malingué
	Jean-Pierre Grenier as (Voice dubbing for Carlo Ninchi)

Crew