Themes: Age Disparity Romance, On the Campaign Trail, Opposites Attract
Main Cast: Jack David Harris, Paul Newman, Lolita Davidovich, Jerry Hardin, Gailard Sartain, Jeffrey DeMunn
Release Year: 1989
Country: US
Run Time: 117 minutes
Plot
Blaze is a comic-strip re-telling of the curious late-1950s relationship between famed striptease artist Blaze Starr (Lolita Davidovitch) and Lousiana governor Earl Long (played in gorgeously flamboyant fashion by Paul Newman). Their romance is counterbalanced with the story of Long's efforts to win voting rights for Louisiana's black citizens. The governor's political enemies ruin his chances at re-election, then try to put him out of the way permanently with a trumped-up insanity charge. But with faithful Blaze at his side (and in close proximity to other portions of his anatomy), Long confounds his foes by winning a congressional seat. On the eve of this triumph, Earl Long dies, bringing this boisterous story to a sobering conclusion. Since the film is based on Blaze Starr's own reminiscences, one might prepare oneself with several grains of salt. The real Blaze Starr shows up early in the film as a stripper named Lily. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Writer and director Ron Shelton briefly deviates from his sports-themed comedies for this examination of an irascible character from the history of America's second favorite pastime, politics. The result is a memorable, entertaining biography that ranks as some of star Paul Newman's best work, in what amounts to an underrated little jewel of a film that deserves better from critics and audiences. Shelton's writing and Newman's energetic performance are the twin pillars that prop the film up, featuring wonderful character moments and line delivery from the star, and inventive, humorous scenes from the writer/director's pen. The role of Governor Earl Long is the sort of part that Newman excels in, and he relishes his swagger, his accent, his boozy flirtatiousness, and inebriated incoherence. Such is his joyous zeal at sinking his teeth into a larger-than-life role that he makes the viewer accept that Long, too, enjoyed an unquenchable zest for life, whether or not the genuine article really did. Lolita Davidovich is stunningly beautiful and appropriately saucy in her worldly stripper persona, adding up to a film that is just about note-perfect, hampered only by the tragic finale forced upon it by reality. Blaze is a tight, delightful picture that ranks as among Shelton's best films, putting aside the trash-talking cynicism of his oeuvre for a welcome diversion into smart, sharply realized romance. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Garland Bunting - Doc Ferriday; Richard Jenkins - Times-Picayune Reporter; Robert Wuhl - Red Snyder; Patrik Baldauff - Rep. Kennon; Dianne Brill - Delilah Dough; Michael Brockman - Bobby; Teresa Gilmore Capps - Tamara Knight; Eloy Casados - Antoine; Robert Earle - Rep. Elfin; John P. Fertitta - Hospital Director; James Harper - Willie Rainach; Jack David Harris; Harold G. Herthum - Earl's Crony; Harlan Jordan - Dr. Cheeseborough; Brad Leland - Dufee; Gilbert Lewis - Rev. Marquez; Rod Masterson - 1st Town Talk Reporter; Brandon Smith - Arvin Deeter; Blaze Starr - Lily; Emily Warfield - Debbie Fleming; Thomas Radcliffe Atkins - Rep. Johnson; Mike Baer - Secretary of Legislature; John A. Barber - Rep. Hebert; Michael Brooks - Motorcycle Trooper; Bob Cherry - Earl's Crony; David R. Conly - Drunken Sailor; Ben Cook - Younger Brother; King Cotton - Jimmie Davis; Bill Dunleavy - 2nd Town Talk Reporter; Kevin Graham - Motorcycle Trooper; Carey Rauhman Holliday - Rep. Alexander; Sid Lacey - Earl's Crony; Bill Mesman - Rep. Davis; Michael O'Neal - Motorcycle Trooper; Dick Person - General Store Owner; Wendell Raybon - Motorcycle Trooper; Brooks Read - Reporter in Store; Al Robinson - Magnolia Local; Glynn Rubin - 2nd Crony Wife; Janet Shea - 1st Crony Wife; Thomas C. Smith-Alden - Asylum Spokesman; Pat Snow - Johnnie Mae; Louanne Stephens - Lora Fleming; Gary Sturgis - Marquez's Son; Deano Thornton - Drunken Officer; George Wyatt - Drunken Officer; Fred Lewis - Heckling Reporter; Stanley Hughes - Motorcycle Trooper; Donald Lee - Donut Shop Man
Credit
Ed Richardson - Art Director, Wendy Dozoretz - Associate Producer, Gil Friesen - Co-producer, Dale Pollock - Co-producer, Ruth Myers - Costume Designer, Ron Shelton - Director, Robert Leighton - Editor, David Lester - Executive Producer, Don Miller - Executive Producer, Wayne Peet - Composer (Music Score), Bennie Wallace - Composer (Music Score), David Anderle - Musical Direction/Supervision, Christina Smith - Makeup, Monty Westmore - Makeup, Armin Ganz - Production Designer, Haskell Wexler - Cinematographer, Harold L. Fuhrman - Set Designer, Ron Shelton - Screenwriter, Blaze Starr - Book Author, Huey Perry - Book Author
The movie tells the highly-fictionalized story of the latter years of Earl Long, a flamboyant Governor of Louisiana, brother of assassinated governor and U.S. Senator Huey P. Long and uncle of longtime U.S. Senator Russell Long. According to the novel and film, Earl Long allegedly fell in love with a young stripper named Blaze Starr.
