Louisiana Story (1948)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Robert J. Flaherty

Writers:

Frances H. Flaherty (original screenplay)
Robert J. Flaherty (original screenplay)

Release Date:

28 October 1948 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A Cajun boy's life on a Louisiana bayou changes forever when an oil derrick begins drilling near his home.

Plot Keywords:

Bayou | Cajun | Louisiana | Alligator | Alligator Attack

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Joseph Boudreaux	...	The Boy
Lionel Le Blanc	...	His Father
E. Bienvenu	...	His Mother (as Mrs. E. Bienvenu)
Frank Hardy	...	The Driller
C.P. Guedry	...	The Boilerman

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Finland:K-8 | Germany:6 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Petit Anse Bayou, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Robert Flaherty Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Financed by Standard Oil Company with a budget of $258,000.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the raccoon escapes from the boat and swims through the bayou, the edge of a pontoon or boat appears at the right side of the frame

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cinéma Vérité: Defining the Moment (1999)

Soundtrack:

Louisiana Story

Great documentary film to see, not the story.

Robert Flaherty had a great eye for the interesting shots. Never more so than this oil company funded film about a young boy seeing the oil rig come to his Louisiana bayou. Although there is not much of a story the shots of the oil rig, life in the bayou, and the moods that Flaherty captures make it a film well worth seeing. If you see "Man of Aran" or "Nannok of the North" remember it was the same great documentary filmmaker. I've seen it twice and probably will see it again someday.