Louisiana Movie Poster Museum
Welcome to the the Louisiana Movie Poster Virtual Museum. Since 1895 more than 3,000 movies have been made in or about Louisiana. These posters advertised a few of them. We have hundreds to add, so check back with us as we grow.
Ed and Susan Poole, renowned movie poster experts and authorities on Louisiana film history, curated this initial exhibit. It is based on the Backdrop Louisiana! exhibit that premiered in Slidell, Louisiana in January, 2020 and we’re looking forward to a post-pandemic tour. A smidgen of their knowledge can be found at Learn About Movie Posters, known worldwide as LAMP. Visit Hollywood on the Bayou for a deeper dive into Louisiana film history.
This museum is funded in part by grants from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation and the New Orleans Entertainment Coalition.
Take a Tour – We love your stories!
Click on a poster to view larger image. Then click “i”. Post your story in Comments. We love to hear about films you remember and your experiences. It’s a highlight of our live exhibits that we hope to recreate in the virtual museum.
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The Flame Of New Orleans
The 1927 release of The Jazz Singer signified a radical shift in the film industry. By 1929, nearly every movie released used sound. By this time, most films were being produced in California, with many studios recreating locales such as New Orleans in their backlots. There were still some films with scenes shot on location in the city during the 1930s and 1940s. These include Sea Ghost
(1931); The Moth (1934); Sunny (1941) and Swamp Woman (1941). By far the most recognizable and successful movie of this group is The Flame of New Orleans, 1941.
The Flame of New Orleans was the first American film made by French director Rene Clair. Clair made a name for himself with stylish French comedies like LeMillion (1931) and A Nous la Liberte
(1931). At the time of the film's production, he was fleeing Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II and was anxious to continue making films in Hollywood. He originally wanted to make a movie with W.C. Fields and musical star Deanna Durbin. Instead, producer Joe Pasternak suggested he work with Marlene Dietrich using a script by Norman Krasna. The film also starred Bruce Cabot, Roland Young, and Andy Devine.
The Flame of New Orleans was set in 1840 New Orleans. A wedding gown was found floating down the Mississippi river. Only three people know the secret of its origin. Those people were: a poor French woman who headed to New Orleans with the intent of marrying a man of means; the gentleman she meets and plans to marry; and a boat captain who captures her attention and heart.
Pasternak went to great detail to make the film real, recreating the New Orleans of 100 years ago. Bernard Szold, former director of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, was hired as technical adviser on the film. Szold’s job was to make the film authentic in matters of background, costume and atmosphere. Exterior shots were filmed in New Orleans.
The film’s world premiere brought about a holiday with schools closed, streets decorated and parades scheduled. The city of New Orleans rolled out the red carpet for the Hollywood luminaries who attended the premiere on April 24, 1941.
Poster: U.S. Insert Reissue