Louisiana Story is a 78-minute black-and-white American film. Although the events and characters depicted are fictional, it is often misidentified as a documentary film. In fact, it is a docufiction. The script was written by Frances H. Flaherty and Robert J. Flaherty, and also directed by Robert J. Flaherty. It was commissioned by the Standard Oil Company. A first-hand viewing of the film reveals a story dealing with the adventures of a young Cajun boy and his pet raccoon, who live a somewhat idyllic existence playing in the bayous of Louisiana. A sub-plot involves his elderly father's... allowing an oil company to drill for oil in the inlet that runs behind their house. A completely assembled miniature oil rig on a slender barge is towed into the inlet from connecting narrow waterways. Although there is a moment of crisis when the rig strikes a gas pocket, most of this is dealt with swiftly and off-camera, and the barge, rig, and friendly drillers depart expeditiously, leaving behind a phenomenally clean environment and a wealthy Cajun family.
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| Release date: | 1948 |
| Directed by: | Robert J. Flaherty |
| Runtime: | 78 Minutes |
| Producer: | Robert J. Flaherty |
| Editor: | Helen van Dongen |
| Music by: | Virgil Thomson |
| Cinematography: | Richard Leacock |
| Screenplay by: | Robert J. Flaherty, Frances H. Flaherty |