No matter how implausible, and never mind any gaping plot holes, we must see how the Disaster will play out, and how survivors will Overcome.
You know the drill: The movie usually begins with an introduction to the characters in their Daily Life, so we can assess what kind of people they are. Then Disaster strikes, complete with dazzling special effects, and, as things Sort Themselves Out, our suspicions are confirmed about who will survive and who will Not.
You can see this formula at work in RKO’s Deluge (1933).
Yes, you read that date right. During one of the worst years of the Depression, RKO Pictures released a Global Flood movie, which features earthquakes, flooding, and a whole lot of destruction.
The film opens with panic-stricken meteorologists analyzing weather data. A Violent Storm is approaching all continents on earth, but the movie concentrates the United States, and, specifically, New York City, the darling of disaster movies.
We are introduced to two main characters. One is an athletic young woman (Peggy Shannon) – a champion swimmer, no less – who is preparing for a gruelling long distance swim. (Hint: Her training will come in Very Handy during this film.) The other protagonist is a lawyer (Sidney Blackmer), a man with an adoring wife and two children, and his experience will be useful after the waters recede.
About the Flood: The movie tells us the American west coast has been destroyed, and the Great Lakes are overflowing. Now the waters threaten to destroy New York!
When the water appears, it quickly drowns the city, and it’s hard to imagine anyone could survive it.
Even in 1933, New York was The Place for disaster. Image: IMDb
Deluge has a run time of 70 minutes, and the Weather Disaster is completed in the first 20 minutes. The rest of the film deals with the survivors and how they organize a new society.
Compared to today’s slick CGI effects, the miniature sets used in Deluge look somewhat amateurish. Even so, these scenes are not without tension.
For example, look at how filmmakers spliced footage of (A) frantic crowds running from (B) massive tidal waves. This was pushing the limits of equipment and special effects at the time, and would have been impressive stuff for audiences in 1933.
Republic Pictures bought the film specifically for that special effects footage, which was then used in a few other movies in the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Wikipedia has an interesting note about some of the stock footage used in the film. “Part of the stock footage of ships and planes returning to base under storm warnings includes actual footage of the Navy Zeppelin USS Macon (ZRS-5) which would be lost at sea in 1935.”¹
Marauding gangs. Image: Old Time Movies and Radio
Deluge is a Pre-Code film, and, therefore, it raises a few eyebrows. For example, we see a gang of mean, creepy men who Take No Prisoners, especially when it comes to women.
We were also taken aback by the Love Triangle between Shannon, Blackmer, and Blackmer’s wife (Lois Wilson). Spoiler Alert: Wilson’s character manages to survive the flood, which leads to Complications.
One of the many things the film does effectively is to suggest violence without being graphic. Even so, there are a couple of images that we’ll never forget. (If you’ve seen this film, let us know if you agree.)
Deluge is based on a 1928 novel by British sci-fi author S. Fowler Wright, who was disappointed in the final result. Wikipedia says “he felt the film was ‘ghastly’ and advised his children not to see it.²
(What? An author disappointed in a Hollywood adaptation of his work? Say it ain’t so!)
It was also considered a lost film for decades, until a print was found in Italy in the early 1980s. Kino Lorber restored the film in 2K and released it in 2017. This is the version we saw, and it is pretty spiffy.
Deluge is worth the 70 minutes, especially if disaster movies are your Thing. It’s more philosophical than we’ve let on, especially when it comes to building a new society after a global disaster.
Deluge: starring Peggy Shannon, Lois Wilson, Sidney Blackmer. Directed by Felix E. Feist. Written by John F. Goodrich & Warren Duff. RKO, 1933, B&W, 70 mins.
Sources
1Wikipedia. (Retrieved June 9, 2022.) Deluge (film). ²Ibid.
Great post, Ruth — and what a perfect choice for the blogathon. I’ve seen Deluge twice now, and I’m utterly fascinated, both with the film itself and Peggy Shannon. Thanks for shining the spotlight on this interesting pre-Code!
Love the way there is always someone with much needed and always fitting skills depending on the disaster movie.. and this not just a 1970s must have ingredient.
I have only seen short clips from this film, but I was impressed considering the time period. You just don’t think of epic disaster movies coming along until the ’70s. Maybe the business model was “forget your troubles for an hour or two and see what real trouble looks like!” But I imagine musicals, romantic comedies and actors in glitter dresses and tuxes were a better draw. 🙂
Great post – I had not heard of Deluge – what a strange time to make a disaster movie! That first picture made me smile because of how well dressed the actress is even though they are seeking refuge in a quarry. Thanks for sharing your review – this looks like a fun movie to watch 🙂
Disaster Movies have been among us for so long, that’s very impressive! Nowadays they have somehow become indulgent, but this Pre-Code treat might be a real shock!
Movie critic Leonard Maltin rates DELUGE two out of four stars, giving it kudos for special effects (for its time) but saying the story is second rate. I haven’t seen the film, but thought I’d pass along Maltin’s review for what it’s worth.
It’s good to know how Leonard Maltin rated it – he always strives to be fair, I think. As far as the story, I don’t disagree with him, but there aren’t many disaster movies with a first-rate storyline. This one stands out for the shock value.
I haven’t heard of this film! I’m rather ashamed to say that I never equate classic Hollywood with disaster films, but this sounds well worth seeking out. Also, seeing a young Sidney Blackmer is fascinating, as I always think of him as the dad from High Society. Also, give me some good miniatures any day! Thank you for contributing to our Blogathon!
Wikipedia says this film was a modest hit for RKO Studios (whatever “modest” means). As for the film itself, there are some surprising scenes – a couple of times I said, out loud, “NO WAY.”
I know what you mean. There’s something very 1970s-ish about these movies, isn’t there? This one was quite an eye-opener, and I hope you get the chance to see the restored 2K version.
I had never heard about this movie, but now I’m SO intrigued! Your review certainly sold it to me, and it’ll be curious to watch it as we try to rebuild the world after a different kind of disaster that has been this pandemic. Great review!
Greetings!
Le
I think you might like this film, Le. Being a pre-Code, it’s definitely ahead of its time. It’s thought provoking in its way, and it deals with the situation with earnestness. It’s not a film soon forgotten.
Thank you for the information; please keep writing such excellent stuff. I’ll return for more reading. You can view my website as well. BBC.com/account/tv
Silver Screenings 
Great post, Ruth — and what a perfect choice for the blogathon. I’ve seen Deluge twice now, and I’m utterly fascinated, both with the film itself and Peggy Shannon. Thanks for shining the spotlight on this interesting pre-Code!
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It is a fascinating film, isn’t it? I didn’t expect it to be that engrossing.
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Love the way there is always someone with much needed and always fitting skills depending on the disaster movie.. and this not just a 1970s must have ingredient.
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Haha! You said it! It was very handy to have a long-distance swimmer in this movie about disastrous flooding.
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I have only seen short clips from this film, but I was impressed considering the time period. You just don’t think of epic disaster movies coming along until the ’70s. Maybe the business model was “forget your troubles for an hour or two and see what real trouble looks like!” But I imagine musicals, romantic comedies and actors in glitter dresses and tuxes were a better draw. 🙂
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Well said, Brian. Gimme Fred & Ginger any day, but I suspect you may be right re: the business model & forgetting your own problems for a while.
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Great post – I had not heard of Deluge – what a strange time to make a disaster movie! That first picture made me smile because of how well dressed the actress is even though they are seeking refuge in a quarry. Thanks for sharing your review – this looks like a fun movie to watch 🙂
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This movie has a lot of surprises, and it’s only 70 minutes, so it’s not a huge time investment.
And yeah, those are some beautiful designer clothes to escape in, right?
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Disaster Movies have been among us for so long, that’s very impressive! Nowadays they have somehow become indulgent, but this Pre-Code treat might be a real shock!
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I was a little surprised at some of the scenes in this film. It is Definitely a pre-Code!
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Movie critic Leonard Maltin rates DELUGE two out of four stars, giving it kudos for special effects (for its time) but saying the story is second rate. I haven’t seen the film, but thought I’d pass along Maltin’s review for what it’s worth.
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It’s good to know how Leonard Maltin rated it – he always strives to be fair, I think. As far as the story, I don’t disagree with him, but there aren’t many disaster movies with a first-rate storyline. This one stands out for the shock value.
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I haven’t heard of this film! I’m rather ashamed to say that I never equate classic Hollywood with disaster films, but this sounds well worth seeking out. Also, seeing a young Sidney Blackmer is fascinating, as I always think of him as the dad from High Society. Also, give me some good miniatures any day! Thank you for contributing to our Blogathon!
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The miniatures are really well done, in my unprofessional opinion. They add necessary perspective re: the giant waves & destruction.
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It sounds really ahead of its time on a number of levels—I’ll have to try and find a copy!
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Oh yeah, this one is definitely ahead of its time. I hope you get a chance to see it – I think it has some surprising stuff, even for a pre-Code.
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I don’t think I’ve seen a film from before 1935, your description is interesting. I wonder if it was popular in its day.
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Wikipedia says this film was a modest hit for RKO Studios (whatever “modest” means). As for the film itself, there are some surprising scenes – a couple of times I said, out loud, “NO WAY.”
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How interesting! I’d never heard of this movie before. Disaster movies feel sometimes as if they’d been born in the ‘70s, but clearly that’s not true.
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I know what you mean. There’s something very 1970s-ish about these movies, isn’t there? This one was quite an eye-opener, and I hope you get the chance to see the restored 2K version.
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I had never heard about this movie, but now I’m SO intrigued! Your review certainly sold it to me, and it’ll be curious to watch it as we try to rebuild the world after a different kind of disaster that has been this pandemic. Great review!
Greetings!
Le
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I think you might like this film, Le. Being a pre-Code, it’s definitely ahead of its time. It’s thought provoking in its way, and it deals with the situation with earnestness. It’s not a film soon forgotten.
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Interesting selection! I never even heard of this movie before. Thanks for the excellent review! 🙂
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I hadn’t heard of it before, either, and I went into it with zero expectations. It’s enjoyable – if you can get past the first few scenes.
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I’m happy by reading your enjoyable article, Keep uploading more interesting articles like this.
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Thanks very much! I’ll be be your site soon, to see what you’re up to. (Sometimes I get a little behind on my blog reading, but I’ll drop by soon.)
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Thank you for the information; please keep writing such excellent stuff. I’ll return for more reading. You can view my website as well.
BBC.com/account/tv
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Thank you for stopping by. I’ll visit your site soon…although sometimes I fall behind in my blog reading.
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