LADY FROM LOUISIANA
US, 1941, 84 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Ona Munson, Ray Middleton, Henry Stephenson, Helen Westley, Dorothy Dandridge.
Directed by Bernard Vorhaus.
Lady Prom Louisiana is a John Wayne costume actioner from the early '40s, the period after Stagecoach when Wayne was beginning his stride to be a major star. It is one of the many vehicles he made at Republic. The film is enjoyable, was written by Vera Caspary (author of Laura) and has a good sense of period. Of interest, Dorothy Dandridge appears in a small supporting role as an entertainer.
1. Enjoyable John Wayne action feature? A John Wayne vehicle?
2. Sense of period, costumes and decor? New Orleans? Musical score? Louisiana and the riverboats,
3. The title and the focus on Julie Mirbeau? Her place in society? Her father, General Mirbeau? The background of the lotteries and the gambling in New Orleans? Charity? The riverboat and her encounter with John Reynolds? Attraction? Gallantry? The discovery that he was the attorney against the lotteries? Her taking a stand against him? Her attraction towards Blackie Williams? The attempts that Julie made to win John over to her point of view? The Mardi Gras? The murder of the winner? Julie's determination not to believe John? The death of her father? Her blaming John? The court cases and her reaction against him? The trial, the storm and the flood? Blackie abandoning Julie? John rescuing her? Her understanding the truth and the happy ending?
4. John Wayne's upright style as John Reynolds? Gallantry on the riverboat? With Louisiana society? His being brought in by the anti-lottery forces? His stances for them? The interviews with General Mirbeau? Blackie as friendly, then as hostile? Julie's attempts to change his mind? His standing his ground? The death of the owner, John's investigations? The death of General Mirbeau? Suspicion? His getting hold of the registers? The trial? The flood and his rescuing Julie? An upright American 19th century hero?
5. General Mirbeau and his place in Louisiana society? Snobbery? His belief that the lottery money went to charities? His being hoodwinked by Blackie? His love for his daughter, the antagonism towards Reynolds? The discovery of the truth, his dismissal of Blackie? His death?
6. Blackie as the suave criminal? Paying court to Julie? His henchmen? The death of the lottery-winner? His place with General, Mirbeau? The falling out, the murder? His cowardice during the flood? His death?
7. The anti-lottery forces? The old lady and her suspicion? Employing Reynolds? The stances taken, their justification?
8. The exploitation of the lottery by the gangsters?
9. The picture of life in New Orleans? saloons? The lottery? violence? the high society style? The Law and order?
10. The trial, the interruption by the storm, the flood? The final heroics?
11. Popular ingredients of a costume actioner?
