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 ...
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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, Rovi
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Seller's Description:
Paul Newman, Lolita Davidovich, Jerry Hardin, Gailard Sartain, Jeffrey DeMunn, Jack David Harris. Fine. VHS TAPE-LIKE NEW! ! ! TAPE AND ORIGINAL COVER ARE EXCELLENT! ! ! -LIKE NEW! ! ! -FROM SELLER WITH OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE SELLING ON-LINE.
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Seller's Description:
Richard Jenkins, Lolita Davidovich, Jerry Hardin, Gailard Sartain, Jeffrey DeMunn, Garland Bunting, Brandon Smith, Jay... Very good. 1989 Run time: 120. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Richard Jenkins, Lolita Davidovich, Jerry Hardin, Gailard Sartain, Jeffrey DeMunn, Garland Bunting, Brandon Smith, Jay... Very good. 1989 Run time: 120. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Paul Newman, Lolita Davidovich, Jerry Hardin, Gailard Sartain, Jeffrey DeMunn, Jack David Harris. Run time: 117 mins. Aspect ratio: 1.85: 1. Originally released: 1989. Language: English. Factory sealed brand new dvd Based on the true story of Louisiana Governor Earl Long's scandalous love affair with stripper Blaze Starr, BLAZE retells the tale of the fiery, eccentric governor who falls for a New Orleans stripper. Their relationship forces him to choose between the office he's got and the woman he wants. He chooses both! Paul Newman shines as the flamboyant, middle-aged Long in this Oscar-nominated (Best Cinematography--Haskell Wexler) and oftentimes humorous docudrama.
While this movie is not one of Paul Newman's best known, it absolutely is one of his best. No Paul Newman fan should miss this. I believe he also does his best character work in this film, playing the colorful Earl Long, governor of Louisiana. Earl Long is adept at the game of politics in the segregated south.
He rides in his big old cadillac visiting his constituants. He buys merchandise from the shop owners in one small town and gives it away to the people in the next town and buys some more merchandise. Every single person he meets, he shakes their hand and says, "Vote for Earl!"
Earl loves carousing in strip clubs, where he meets Blaze Starr. Blaze is played by Lolita Davidovitch with sincerity and dignity. How a good girl from the hills of WV ends up in a strip club is a good funny story in itself. There is a very funny love scene between them where he has some difficulty and he proclaims, "I'm just like a Ford, slow to start but once I get go'in..."
What I really like about this movie is that even though the characters are an outlandish politician and a stripper with a heart of gold, it is never trite and the characters have personal depth.There are no stereotypes. I disagree that it is a comic strip type movie. Nothing could be further than the truth.
While racial issues weave throughout the film, it is done so skillfuly, one does not feel you've been hit over the head with a Message. It is facinating how Earl works the political system to benefit the black man while still being able to preserve his own political hide. He is much smarter than he appears.There is a showdown at the state legislature where Earl is thrown out and thrown in a mental asylum by political opponents.
He gets out of the asylum with Blaze's help and some brilliant political manuvering. The opposition tried to smear him by calling him crazy. He responds "No I'm not and I've got the papers to prove it!"
I've watched the movie several times just because it's so enjoyable. I am in my 50's and my daughters are in their early 20's and they love it too.To me that makes it a classic film.
