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Stills by Talmage H. Morrison
"LouisiANA Purchase"
One of the most successful musical comedies ever to reach Broadway, "Lousiana Purchase" grossed $1,679,000 during fiftyeight weeks on the stage before Paramount brought six members of its cast to Hollywood to join Bob Hope in the Technicolor picturization of the show.
The six are Victor Moore, who repeats his inimitable characterization of Senator Oliver P. Loganberry; Vera Zorina, ballet and dramatic star, seen as immigree Marine Von Duren; Irene Bordoni. French comedienne who makes her first return to films in twelve years as Mme. Bordelaise: Charles Le Torre, the head waiter; Charles Lasky. Zorina's dancing partner, and Lynda Grey, one of the front-line showgirls.
Incidentally, "Lousiana Purchase" has no connection with the deal whereby Thomas Jefferson paid Napolean Bonaparte $15,000,000 for the Lousiana territory back in 1803. It is a strictly modern comedy dealing with the second "purchase" — the sellout to a bunch of political tricksters. And the "Lousiana" and "New Orleans" mentioned in the script are a "mythical" state and city, as the prologue carefully explains.
Of three B. G. De Sylva hits on Broadway, the other two being "Panama Hattie"" and "Du Barry Was a Lady," this was the one he most desired to bring personally to the screen. The original story idea is his own. Only major changes between the stage and screen versions involved making Hope, as Jim Taylor, a State Representative instead of a private citizen, permitting a Senate filibuster sequence as a climax, which is packed with the typical Hope brand of humor.
The Victor Moore role as Secretary Loganberry represents the first opportunity he has enjoyed to play in motion pictures, the type of character for which he has been a by-word on Broadwav. Though "Make Way for Tomorrow" afforded him a memorable dramatic part, it revealed his versatility rather than his stage personality. "This," wisecracked Victor, "is my last attempt to make good in Hollywood." That he succeeded is indicated by the fact that Paramount has a commitment with him for another picture next year.
So successful was Zorina in the feminine lead opposite Hope, that she has been signed for a straight dramatic role opposite Ray Milland, "The Hour Before Dawn," the Somerset Maughan story to be produced by Paramount this season.
To find the girls, more than 800 tests were conducted, and the final selections represent the cream of the crop throughout
International Photographer for December, 1941