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Louisiana Territory

Name: Louisiana Territory
Director: Harry W. Smith
Released: 1953
Duration: 63 min

Representation Score

1.9/10

Minimal

1953

Approved

Director

Harry W. Smith

Runtime

63 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Louisiana Territory serves as a celebratory historical retrospective of American expansion. It uses a top-down perspective that emphasizes institutional growth and patriotic milestones over individual or underrepresented experiences. The film adheres to mid-century cinematic paradigms, focusing on the success of the Louisiana Purchase. This approach prioritizes the establishment of business districts, museums, and municipal development as the primary markers of progress. Ultimately, the work lacks nuanced character development. It functions more as a geographical and diplomatic survey than a detailed exploration of the diverse people living within the territory.

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Category Breakdown

Does Louisiana Territory have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not depict any non-straight relationships or identities. It focuses solely on the diplomatic history and the progression of the Louisiana Purchase territory.

How does Louisiana Territory portray gender?

Limited

The story centers around male-dominated roles such as high-level diplomacy and territorial expansion. This structure reinforces a traditional patriarchal framework of leadership and progress.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Louisiana Territory?

Fair

While New Orleans and Mardi Gras showcase diverse cultural expressions, the film prioritizes the U.S. diplomatic success. There are no actively leading characters of color driving the narrative.

How does Louisiana Territory represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film celebrates Western expansion and American progress. It prioritizes the historical legitimacy of territorial acquisition and the establishment of American municipal institutions.

Does Louisiana Territory include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or invisible disabilities depicted in the film. The footage focuses on landscapes, urban development, and historical figures.

Present on Screen

Showcases diverse cultural expressions through the depiction of New Orleans and Mardi Gras festivities.
Provides a visual record of regional growth and urban development across various mid-century American cities.

Limited or Absent

Lacks characters of color who play significant roles in driving the historical narrative.
Focuses on a patriarchal framework centered on male diplomatic figures.
Does not include any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.

Official Synopsis

Made by RKO-Pathe, in Pathe color and three-dimension, in observance of the 150th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase from France at a cost of $15,000,000 (more than the annual income of the U.S.A. at the time). After a short narrative showing U.S. Ambassador Robert Livingston (Val Winter) negotiating the purchase with Napoleon and Tallyrand, the rest of the film, guided by Livingston's spirit, visits the 1953 territory of the purchase and shows the growth of such former outposts as Minneapolis, Minnesota; Des Moines, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri; Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas, and Little Rock, Arkansas. Most of the footage is given to New Orleans, Louisiana and its Vieux Carre, docks, business district and museums, ending with the preparation for that city's annual Mardi Gras.

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