Blaze (1989 film)

Blaze is a 1989 American 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 as Earl Long and Lolita Davidovich as Blaze Starr, with Starr herself in a cameo appearance.

Plot
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.

Cast

 * Paul Newman as Governor 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 movie received mixed reviews from critics.

Box office
Blaze debuted at number 9 at the North American box office on its opening weekend.