Louisiana Purchase (1941)

A U.S. senator (Bob Hope) discovers that he was used by a corporation that misused federal funds and they intend to make him the fall guy when hearings are conducted on their corruption by the Senate. Based on the Broadway musical and directed by Irving Cummings (DOWN ARGENTINE WAY). The musical had songs composed by Irving Berlin but over half of the show's songs are ditched in this film version. It's not a musical now but just a comedy with songs. Never having seen the original stage version in any form, I don't know how good a musical it was. But the movie seems compromised, neither a full blown musical nor a good example of a Bob Hope comedy. The stage version was a political satire while the movie makes Republican jokes that don't hold up today. I only laughed once and that was a sight gag when Hope squeezed a lemon. It's chief asset is the vivid Technicolor and Raoul Pene Du Bois' production and costume design. Victor Moore, Vera Zorina and Irene Bordoni recreate their stage roles. With Frank Albertson, Dona Drake, Maxie Rosenbloom and Raymond Walburn.