Louisiana Story (1948)

The idyllic life of a young Cajun boy and his pet raccoon is disrupted when the tranquility of the bayou is broken by an oil well drilling near his home.

Director:

Robert J. Flaherty (as Robert Flaherty)

Writers:

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

Stars:

Joseph Boudreaux, Lionel Le Blanc, E. Bienvenu

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited 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
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Oscar J. Yarborough	...	Oil Company Lessor

Storyline

A young Cajun boy named Alexander Napolean Ulysses Latour spends his time on a Louisiana bayou. There he plays, fishes and hunts, worrying only about the alligators which infest its waters. The boy's innocent routine changes forever when his father signs a lease agreement with an oil company which brings a derrick into their corner of the bayou.

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Plot Keywords:

bayou | raccoon | louisiana | cajun | alligator | 

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Taglines:

Being the Adventures of a "Cajun Huckleberry Finn" in the Bayous of Louiaiana...

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

After a screen test had been shot of Joseph Boudreaux, but before he had been chosen for the role of The Boy, his uncle gave him a "G.I."--i.e., very short--haircut. The production had to delay shooting until his hair grew back.

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

The Boy: My father say, you crazy all you sailors.

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Connections

Referenced in Les échos du cinéma: Episode #1.23 (1961)

User Reviews

Louisiana Story makes an excellent finale for Robert J. Flaherty

Under the heading "Louisiana" I checked this documentary called Louisiana Story by Robert J. Flaherty out of curiosity from my local East Baton Rouge Parish Library. Beautiful views of the state swamps as well as fascinating scenes of the oil rig that inhabits them dominates the film which depicts the adventures of a Cajun boy on a boat fishing and hunting alligators with his pet raccoon. His father occasionally comes along for the ride and they both have friendly relations with the workers of the oil well. There are some scenes of the mother as well. Great Pulitzer Prize-winning music scored by Virgil Thomson is beautifully performed by The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra as conducted by Eugene Ormandy. Wonderful cinematography by Richard Leacock. Worth checking out as a depiction of late '40s Louisiana as well as the final film of Mr. Flaherty before his death in 1951. Update-4/29/07: The Cajun boy that starred in this film, J.C. Boudreaux, is now 73 and lives with his wife of 55 years, Regina, in a FEMA trailer in the town of Sweet Lake which is south of Lake Charles. They moved there after Hurricane Rita destroyed their home in Cameron. They had seven children who have provided them numerous grand-and great-grandchildren. Boudreaux still loves fishing. I found this out reading this morning's The (Baton Rouge) Advocate.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

28 October 1948 (France)

Also Known As:

Cajun

Filming Locations:

Petit Anse Bayou, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$258,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Robert Flaherty Productions Inc., Standard Oil

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1