Critics’ reviews

Louisiana Story (1948)

7 reviews from 7 publications. Critics’ score 73: 4 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative.

Back to our review of Louisiana Story

73
Positive
4
Mixed
3
Negative
0
The AV Club
27 May 2003 · Scott Tobias
85*

Tobias presents the film as a poetic, gently humorous work that complicates Flaherty’s legacy as a documentarian. He singles out the opening canoe sequence and its lyrical score for praise.

Read the full review →
The New Yorker
80*

The critic finds the film fascinating and luminous despite its awkwardness and dated industrial mythology. They single out Virgil Thomson’s score and its seductive interplay with Flaherty’s bayou imagery for praise.

Read the full review →
Variety
31 December 1947 · Variety Staff
80*

The review is positive, praising the film’s vivid atmosphere and superlative photography. It also highlights the slender story’s appeal and moments of agonizing suspense.

Read the full review →
Empire
13 April 2006 · David Parkinson
75*

Parkinson gives the film a positive verdict, calling it a prime example of American neo-realism. He especially praises Helen von Dongen’s editing and Virgil Thomson’s evocative score.

Read the full review →
The New York Times
29 September 1948 · Bosley Crowther
65*

The available page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It provides no readable detail about what the critic praised or criticized.

Read the full review →
Time Out
· DC
65*

The available page identifies this as a film review, but provides no review text from which to determine the critic’s verdict. Its metadata mentions Standard Oil’s sponsorship, but offers no specific praise or criticism.

Read the full review →
Radio Times
★★★ · Allen Eyles
60

Eyles regards the film as a simple but affecting story, while noting its sparse dialogue and limited action. He singles out Virgil Thomson’s score and criticizes the wholly favourable portrayal of oil drillers.

Read the full review →

Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate