Brilliant Opening to the Irving Berlin Musical, "Louisiana Purchase" (1941)

Louisiana Purchase (1941 – Paramount)

In one of the finest openings to a screen musical, Emory Parnell hosts the first of two Irving Berlin songs; “Lawyer’s Letter,” and “It’s New to Us.”

Parnell’s secretary is played by Iris Meredith, who starred in many B-Westerns.

Among the many “Louisiana Belles” from the second number are Karin Booth and Barbara Britton.

The titles for these two numbers come from the listing on IMDB; however on the Internet Broadway DB, the corresponding titles for the stage version are listed as, “The Letter,” and “Apologia.” I assume these reference the same two songs.

This Bob Hope film is available on a double-bill DVD, alongside “Never Say Die.”

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