Blaze

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., The curious late-1950s relationship between famed striptease artist Blaze Starr and Lousiana governor Earl Long. Their romance is counterbalanced with the story of Long’s efforts to win voting rights for Louisiana’s black citizens., Paul Newman in the mid-century story of Louisiana governor Earl K. Long’s scandalous affair with New Orleans stripper Blaze Starr (Lolita Davidovich). Thibodeaux: Jerry Hardin. LaGrange: Gailard Sartain. Tuck: Jeffrey DeMunn. Doc Ferriday: Garland Bunting. Picayune: Richard Jenkins. Red: Robert Wuhl. Deeter: Brandon Smith. Braden: Jay Chevalier., The scandalous story of Louisiana governor Earl K Long, who rocked state politics in the 1950s by his affair with stripper Blaze Starr. A progressive and headstrong public figure, the flamboyant governor shocked the political world and the citizenry with his outrageous behaviour involving the flame-haired artiste., Paul Newman stars as Earl Long, the barmy old senator who romances stripper Blaze Starr. Newman is fantastic as the aging lothario, who haunts strip clubs despite his position as Louisiana governor. Davidovich isn’t bad either as the gentle Appalachian girl whose love for Long grows deeper as his eccentricities grow wackier., Paul Newman in the mid-century story of Louisiana governor Earl K. Long’s scandalous affair with New Orleans stripper Blaze Starr.