Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Deluge Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 23, 2017

Disaster films usually save their big moments of mayhem for later, using destruction to motivate characters through the second act. Sometimes, massive visuals are reserved for finales, hoping to leave audiences woozy from all the spectacle. 1933’s “Deluge” doesn’t feel the need to wait, establishing global destruction soon after the main titles, securing screen interest with an opening earthquake and tsunami sequence that promises bigger and crazier events to come. A pre-code production, “Deluge” doesn’t massage initial momentum, but it contains enough oddity and tonal bravery to last, working to upset crowds with mass destruction, only to come back around with an askew tale of love and survival in a post-apocalyptic world.

A storm of epic proportions is heading to America, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it. Trying to shut down public activity, officials struggle to protect the unprepared, but the land cracks and water soon fills the nation, killing off a good portion of the population. Left to sort through the mess is Claire (Peggy Shannon), a champion swimmer who’s found herself in the home of Jepson (Fred Kohler), a backwoods threat who hopes to possess his newly discovered treasure. Escaping from the goon’s control, Claire finds a more friendly face in Martin (Sidney Blackmer), a lonely man who believes he lost his wife and children in the flood. Building a life together, Martin and Claire are soon targeted for revenge by Jepson, who teams with a group of roving brutes looking to cause trouble just for the thrill of it.

“Deluge” captures the panic of doomsday rather well, with the opening act devoted to an escalation of warnings and reports as waters rise and wipe out chunks of America. The science isn’t precise, but the mood is nightmarish, tracking the efforts of individuals to save themselves, while New York City is wrecked by tsunamis and crumbling buildings, detailed in crude but effective special effects. The end of the world opens “Deluge,” which eventually settles into the saga of Jepson and Martin, who embark on a long fight to claim the land’s remaining precious resource: woman. The screenplay (adapting a novel by Sydney Fowler Wright) doesn’t exactly treat Claire with much respect, but pace is sustained as she trades one weird situation for another, introducing a romantic element to the picture that’s of debatable worth.

Deluge Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Long thought lost, "Deluge" has crawled its way back into existence, first through an Italian print that was circulated in the 1980s, and now Lobster Films has acquired a nitrate dupe negative to bring the feature back to its original shape. The AVC encoded image (1.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation is not without considerable wear and tear, showcased through scratches, speckling, and assorted blips of damage, but the essentials are quite appealing. Detail is encouraging, offering a slight degree of sharpness to enjoy facial reactions, locations, and the opening disaster sequence. Texture comes through as far as one can expect from period cinematography. Delineation is satisfactory, and whites remain stable.

Deluge Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a surprisingly clear presentation of dialogue exchanges. Crispness isn't an option, but emotional ranges and dramatic escalation is understood, helping to appreciate performances. Scoring isn't amplified, keeping with period filmmaking standards, but an orchestral presence is acknowledged. Sequences of citywide annihilation are chaotic but never overtly distortive. Hiss is present, but mild.

Deluge Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Richard Harland Smith.

• Bonus Feature: "Back Page" (64:50, HD) is a 1934 production starring Peggy Shannon, Sterling Holloway, and Russell Hopton. Directed by Anton Lorenze.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Deluge Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Deluge" works best in survival mode, watching the world go mad as the marginalized become empowered and the remnants of society look for a new leader. It's far from an ideal viewing experience, offering grotesque depictions of black characters, but as an early example of exploitation during an industry period where indecent material was allowed to roam free, "Deluge" is quite successful as twisted melodrama, even extending to a wild ending where satisfaction isn't guaranteed for any of the participants. It's also valuable as an early effort of screen chaos, manufacturing an elaborate presentation of cities crumbling and mass death for entertainment purposes, and often doing so with greater enthusiasm than the disaster movies of today.