Before the Deluge

The story

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.

Cast

A Antoine BalpêtréAlbert Dutoit P Paul BiscigliaJean-Jacques Noblet B Bernard BlierMarcel Noblet M Marina VladyLiliane Noblet J Jacques ChabassolJean Arnaud C Clément ThierryPhilippe Boussard J Jacques FayetRichard Dutoit R Roger CoggioDaniel Epstein J Jacques CastelotSerge de Montesson L Léonce CorneLe commissaire Auvain P Paul FrankeurMonsieur Boussard I Isa MirandaFrançoise Boussard

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C Carlo NinchiLe président du tribunal D Delia ScalaJosette L Line NoroMadame Arnaud A Albert RémyLe garçon de café A André ValmyL'autre inspecteur de police J Julien VerdierLe veilleur de nuit M Maria ZanoliMadame Dutoit M Marcel Pérèsl'inspecteur Malingué J Jean-Pierre Grenier(Voice dubbing for Carlo Ninchi)