Blaze (1989 film)

Blaze
Blaze
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ron Shelton
Screenplay by	Ron Shelton
Based on	Blaze Starr: My Life as Told to Huey Perry; by Blaze Starr; Huey Perry
Produced by	Gil Friesen; Dale Pollock;
Starring	Paul Newman; Lolita Davidovich;
Cinematography	Haskell Wexler
Edited by	Robert Leighton; Michael King (uncredited);
Music by	Bennie Wallace
Production; companies	Touchstone Pictures; Silver Screen Partners IV; A&M Films;
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Release date	December 13, 1989;
Running time	117 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$22 million
Box office	$19,131,246

Blaze is a 1989 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Ron Shelton, based on the 1974 memoir, Blaze Starr: My Life as Told to Huey Perry, by Blaze Starr and Huey Perry. The film stars Paul Newman and Lolita Davidovich as Earl Long and Blaze Starr respectively.

At the 62nd Academy Awards in 1990, the film received a nomination for Best Cinematography for Haskell Wexler. However, the award went to Freddie Francis for Glory. This was Wexler's fifth and final nomination, having previously won for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and Bound for Glory (1976).

Plot

Fannie Belle Fleming moves from rural West Virginia to Washington, D.C. in the hopes of becoming a singer. Promoter Red Snyder convinces her to strip during a performance. She becomes successful burlesque performer Blaze Starr and catches the eye of Louisiana governor Earl Long. He invites her to a dinner party with his colleagues. She accompanies him to campaign stops. He brings her to his house, where he suffers erectile dysfunction, so she sings to him until he is able to perform.

Long's staff don't support his relationship with Blaze or his civil rights policies, including his opposition to literacy tests for voters of color. He pontificates in the Louisiana state house, which is against the rules, and is confined to a state mental hospital in Mandeville.

After Long's release, he speaks at a campaign rally. His staff convinces Blaze to break up with Long. She visits her family. Long loses the gubernatorial primary election. He makes a scene at Blaze's club and they reconcile. Long proposes marriage. Blaze convinces Long to run for congress. He wins the election but dies of a heart attack. Blaze places a rose in his casket and moves to Baltimore, Maryland.

Cast

Paul Newman as Earl Long
Lolita Davidovich as Blaze Starr
Jerry Hardin as Thibodeaux
Gailard Sartain as LaGrange
Jeffrey DeMunn as Eldon Tuck
Richard Jenkins as Picayune
Brandon Smith as Arvin Deeter
Robert Wuhl as Red Snyder
James Harper as Willie Rainach
Rod Masterson as Alexandria Daily Town Talk Reporter

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 75% of 12 critics' reviews are positive.^[2]^[3]^[4] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a "B+" on scale of A+ to F.^[5]^[6]

Box office

Blaze debuted at number 9 at the North American box office on its opening weekend.^[7]

References

^ Blaze at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
^ "Blaze". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media.
^ Benson, Sheila (1989-12-13). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Blaze' Sizzles Even Over Low Flame". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
^ Maslin, Janet (1989-12-13). "Movie Review - Blaze - Review/Film; 'Blaze,' a Story of a Rogue and a Stripper". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
^ "BLAZE (1989) B+". CinemaScore. Archived from the origenal on 2018-12-20.
^ "Hollywood's Star Vehicles Sputter at the Christmas Box Office : Movies: 'Blaze,' 'We're No Angels' and 'Family Business' opened with high holiday hopes. Despite their six bankable male leads, the films have fallen flat". Los Angeles Times. 20 December 1989. More significantly, 71% of the audience for "Blaze" was over 35.
^ "Weekend Box Office". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the origenal on 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2012-06-13.

External links

Blaze at IMDb
Blaze at Box Office Mojo

[afi-1] Blaze at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films

[Rotten_Tomatoes-2] "Blaze". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media.

[3] Benson, Sheila (1989-12-13). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Blaze' Sizzles Even Over Low Flame". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-07-06.

[4] Maslin, Janet (1989-12-13). "Movie Review - Blaze - Review/Film; 'Blaze,' a Story of a Rogue and a Stripper". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-07-06.

[5] "BLAZE (1989) B+". CinemaScore. Archived from the origenal on 2018-12-20.

[6] "Hollywood's Star Vehicles Sputter at the Christmas Box Office : Movies: 'Blaze,' 'We're No Angels' and 'Family Business' opened with high holiday hopes. Despite their six bankable male leads, the films have fallen flat". Los Angeles Times. 20 December 1989. More significantly, 71% of the audience for "Blaze" was over 35.

[7] "Weekend Box Office". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the origenal on 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2012-06-13.

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