• Trending
    • Certified Fresh & Verified Hot
    • TV Premier dates
    • New horror Movies
    • Best Movies of All Time
  • Movies
    • Movies In Theaters
    • Movies at Home
  • TV Shows
    • New TV
    • Most Popular TV
  • News
    • What to Watch
    • Guides
    • RT News
    • Awards
  • Games
    • Find Your Next Horror Watch
  • Video
  • Showtimes
  • Fanstore
  • About Rotten Tomatoes
  • Critics
  • Download the App Now
  • Logout
Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App New News Showtimes

Blaze

Play trailer Poster for Blaze R,  1989,  1h 58m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 75% 12 Reviews Tomatometer 49% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
75% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
This bawdy comedy is loosely based on the real-life relationship between Earl Long (Paul Newman), the governor of Louisiana, and burlesque performer Blaze Starr (Lolita Davidovich). While Long and his lovely lady carry on their scandalous affair, the politician also has his mind on more serious matters, including the right for local black citizens to vote. Although Long's opponents try to use his many eccentricities against him, the feisty public figure won't go down without a fight.

Critics Reviews

View More
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
3.5/4
Blaze is the affectionate story of two colorful people who had the nerve to stick together, even though that didn't suit everybody's notions of propriety. Go to Full Review
Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) May 9, 2023
3/4
There's sympathy and comprehension and finally love in [Davidovich's] depiction of Blaze's smiling regard for Long's eccentric personality and predicament, which find an answering resonance in Shelton's direction. Go to Full Review
Bruce C. Steele OutWeek May 19, 2020
Not a moment is believable. Go to Full Review
Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Mar 15, 2009
3/5
Supposedly based on fact regarding the relationship of Louisiana's Gov. Earl Long and his stripper girlfriend, this is noted mostly for the offbeat casting of Paul Newman. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jun 19, 2005
2/5
Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews Jul 16, 2004
3/5
Read all reviews
Blaze

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Ron Shelton

Director

Paul Newman

Gov. Earl K. Long

Lolita Davidovich

Blaze Starr

Jerry Hardin

Thibodeaux

Gailard Sartain

LaGrange

Jeffrey DeMunn

Eldon Tuck

More Like This

View All
The Fixer 56% 62% The Fixer Watchlist Johnny Eager 77% Johnny Eager Watchlist The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone 59% The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone Watchlist Lilith 86% 63% Lilith Watchlist Rasputin 79% Rasputin Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Blaze

Blaze (1989) Blaze (1989) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This bawdy comedy is loosely based on the real-life relationship between Earl Long (Paul Newman), the governor of Louisiana, and burlesque performer Blaze Starr (Lolita Davidovich). While Long and his lovely lady carry on their scandalous affair, the politician also has his mind on more serious matters, including the right for local black citizens to vote. Although Long's opponents try to use his many eccentricities against him, the feisty public figure won't go down without a fight.
Director
Ron Shelton
Producer
Gil Friesen, Dale Pollock
Screenwriter
Ron Shelton
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 13, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$19.0M
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings