re: Best Louisiana themed movie?

I forgot about Thunder Bay. It is worth a watch just from a historical standpoint.

That reminds me of a must see documentary. 'Louisiana Story' 1948 is a little goofy but is a great historical document all on LA swamp locations with locals...

It was commissioned by the Standard Oil Company. The story deals with the adventures of a young Cajun boy and his pet raccoon, who live a somewhat idyllic existence playing in the bayous of Louisiana.

The major plot involves his elderly father's allowing an oil company to drill for oil in the inlet that runs behind their house. A completely-assembled miniature oil rig on a slender barge is towed into the inlet from connecting narrow waterways. Although there is a moment of crisis when the rig strikes a gas pocket, most of this is dealt with swiftly and off-camera, and the barge, rig, and friendly drillers depart expeditiously, leaving behind a phenomenally clean environment and a wealthy Cajun family.

Another aspect of the plot is the presence of a giant alligator in the area, which is believed to have eaten the pet raccoon and is hunted in revenge.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story in 1948. In 1949, Virgil Thomson won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his score to the film (which contains only one Cajun-styled piece). In 1994, Louisiana Story was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".