Louisiana Purchase (1941)

Louisiana Purchase (1941)

“Shouldn’t you have a bathing suit? The senator might drool.”

Synopsis:
The head (Bob Hope) of a company caught filching government funds hires a beautiful dancer (Vera Zorina) to ensnare a strait-laced senator (Victor Moore) in a sex scandal — but his plan becomes more complicated when Zorina actually falls for Moore.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Blackmail
  • Bob Hope Films
  • Musicals
  • Romantic Comedy

Review:
Peary is clearly a huge fan of Bob Hope, given that he lists no less than 18 of Hope’s many comedies in GFTFF (including all but one of the seven Road To… titles). This adaptation of Irving Berlin’s Broadway musical — made shortly after Caught in the Draft (1941) — was Hope’s first film in Technicolor: it remains visually appealing, but sadly only contains a couple of songs, and overall falls short of its potential as a political satire. Moore’s intentionally milquetoast Senator Oliver P. Loganberry is an annoying foil, while Hope’s scheming State Representative is hardly someone we want to root for either.

German-Norwegian ballerina Zorina has an ethereal and appealing presence, but she’s not enough to elevate the film to anything other than escapist fare of its day.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Fine Technicolor cinematography

Must See?
No; this one is only must-see viewing for Hope fans.

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