Deluge is a 1933 American apocalyptic science fiction film, directed by Felix E. Feist, and released by RKO Radio Pictures.
It follows a small group of survivors after a series of unexplained natural disasters erupt around the world and destroy civilization, including a massive tsunami which inundates New York City.
Telegraph messages from Rome and London explain days of unending earthquakes and state "The End of the World is at Hand."
Martin Webster and his wife Helen prepare for the oncoming disaster by gathering their children, Ronny and Mary Ann, and some essentials and head for a high rock formation to escape the floods.
Tom, the town's leader, had found Helen in a poor state of health in the aftermath of the disaster, and has been taking care of her ever since.
He then encounters a gang of thugs — which had been driven out of the town for committing crimes such as rape and theft — run by a man named Bellamy.
Meanwhile, a band of vigilantes led by Tom tracks the gang to the tunnel, rescues Martin and Claire, and brings them to the town.
[1] Finding the town plagued by ugly disputes over the distribution of goods, Martin organizes an auction and establishes a successful monetary system for the community.
When Claire sees Martin with Helen at a town meeting, her heart breaks and she runs to the ocean and swims out to sea.
A scene in Deluge that features a tidal wave that leaves New York submerged in water with nearly all inhabitants drowned later was recreated in the 2004 disaster film The Day After Tomorrow.
In 1981, Forrest J Ackerman discovered a print, dubbed in Italian (La distruzione del mondo), in a film archive in Italy.
It belonged to Williams' friend and Italian film producer Luigi Cozzi (aka Lewis Coates).
Ackerman verified it was a lost film in the U.S. After Williams bought the access rights, he made a duplicate preservation negative and 35mm print.
The 35mm print was re-released theatrically and played at the Film Forum in New York City and at other revival houses and archives.