Before the Deluge (Avant le déluge) 70 years old

Before the Deluge

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.

Credits

Before the Deluge Cast

Name Character
Paul Frankeur He was 48, 69 years old when he died as Monsieur Boussard
Marina Vlady She was 15, now 86 years old as Liliane Noblet
Isa Miranda She was 44, 73 years old when she died as Françoise Boussard
Delia Scala She was 24, 74 years old when she died as Josette
Bernard Blier He was 38, 73 years old when he died as Marcel Noblet
Antoine Balpêtré was 55, 64 years old when died as Albert Dutoit
Jacques Chabassol He was 18, now 89 years old as Jean Arnaud
Paul Bisciglia He was 25, 81 years old when he died as Jean-Jacques Noblet

Before the Deluge Crew

Name Department
André Cayatte as Director. He was 45 (80) years old when He died Directing
André Cayatte as Screenplay. He was 45 (80) years old when He died Writing
Charles Spaak as Screenplay. He was 50 (71) years old when He died Writing
Before the Deluge poster
Before the Deluge (70 years)

  • Release day: Friday, February 26, 1954
  • Runtime: 138 minutes