| Blaze | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ron Shelton |
| Screenplay by | Ron Shelton |
| Based on | Blaze Starr: My Life as Told to Huey Perry byBlaze Starr Huey Perry |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Haskell Wexler |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Bennie Wallace |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $22 million[1] |
| Box office | $19,131,246 |
Blaze is a 1989 American comedy-drama film written and directed byRon Shelton, based on the 1974 memoirBlaze Starr: My Life as Told to Huey Perry byBlaze Starr and Huey Perry. The film starsPaul Newman asEarl Long andLolita Davidovich asBlaze Starr.
At the62nd Academy Awards in 1990, the film received a nomination forBest Cinematography forHaskell Wexler. It was Wexler's fifth and final nomination, previously winning forWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) andBound for Glory (1976).
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.
The film received mixed reviews from critics. On thereview aggregator websiteRotten 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]
Blaze debuted at number 9 at the North American box office on its opening weekend.[7]
More significantly, 71% of the audience forBlaze was over 35.