Before the Deluge (1954)
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.
![]() |
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) |
| Editing | Nicole Colombier | Assistant Editor |
| Camera | Louis Stein | Camera Operator |
| Camera | Paul Rodier | Assistant Camera |
| Camera | Sacha Mazour | Still Photographer |
| Art | Jean André | Assistant Production Design |
| Costume & Make-Up | Lala Janvier | Makeup Artist |
| Art | Robert Guisgand | Production Design |
| Directing | André Cayatte | Director |
| Writing | Charles Spaak | Screenplay |
| Writing | André Cayatte | Screenplay |
| Writing | Charles Spaak | Dialogue |
| Directing | Tony Aboyantz | Assistant Director |
| Directing | Jean Valère | Assistant Director |
| Art | Jacques Colombier | Decorator |
| Camera | Jean Bourgoin | Director of Photography |
| Sound | Jacques Lebreton | Sound |
| Sound | Jacques Carrère | Sound |
| Editing | Paul Cayatte | Editor |
| Sound | Georges Van Parys | Music |