Before the Deluge
Avant le déluge
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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Antoine Balpêtré
Albert Dutoit
Paul Bisciglia
Jean-Jacques Noblet
Bernard Blier
Marcel Noblet
Marina Vlady
Liliane Noblet
Jacques Chabassol
Jean Arnaud
Clément Thierry
Philippe Boussard
Jacques Fayet
Richard Dutoit
Roger Coggio
Daniel Epstein
Jacques Castelot
Serge de Montesson
Léonce Corne
Le commissaire Auvain
Paul Frankeur
Monsieur Boussard
Isa Miranda
Françoise Boussard
Carlo Ninchi
Le président du tribunal
Delia Scala
Josette
Line Noro
Madame Arnaud
Albert Rémy
Le garçon de café
André Valmy
L'autre inspecteur de police
Julien Verdier
Le veilleur de nuit
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- André Cayatte
- Screenplay & Story
- André Cayatte, Charles Spaak
- Original Score
- Georges Van Parys
- Original Title
- Avant le déluge
- Country of Origin
- France, Italy
- Spoken Languages
- French
- Runtime
- 2h 18m
- Production Studios
- UGC, Documento Film
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
André Cayatte
André Cayatte, Charles Spaak
Georges Van Parys
Jean Bourgoin
Paul Cayatte
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Guisgand
Production Design
André Cayatte
Director
André Cayatte
Screenplay
Charles Spaak
Screenplay
Jean Bourgoin
Director of Photography
Paul Cayatte
Editor
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Before the Deluge.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Before the Deluge
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Before the Deluge about?
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.
Who directed Before the Deluge?
Before the Deluge was directed by André Cayatte.
Who stars in Before the Deluge?
The principal cast of Before the Deluge includes Antoine Balpêtré, Paul Bisciglia, Bernard Blier, Marina Vlady, Jacques Chabassol.
When was Before the Deluge released and how long is it?
Before the Deluge was released in 1954 with a total runtime of 2h 18m.
Who composed the musical score for Before the Deluge?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Before the Deluge was composed by Georges Van Parys.