Blaze, 1989 Paul Newman - Blaze (1989) Discussion

[–] jdbwell 17 years ago

Yes, that sign has been hangin' up there for awhile.

My DH was an extra in the film (he was in the high school band that was playing) and he said poor Paul looked *so* exhausted while filming. He sat down next to the DH, and DH took pity on him and didn't bother him. Mr. Newman sat there awhile, got up, looked at the DH, said "Thank you" and walked back to filming.

Don't agitate the dots. :)

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[–] darbea 17 years ago

what's a dh?

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[–] colonel_inguss 16 years ago

Her husband. She's a military wife.

Stop playing with yourself Hooper!!

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[–] csoileau 17 years ago

I was there when they filmed the scene where he bought the cat. He was waiting behind a fence for his cue to enter. He saw an old scale. He stood on it and moved the weight back and forth and then said, "Huh, that can't be right." I chuckled (my guess is he had gained a few pounds from Louisiana food) then he heard action and looked around for his boots to carry. I pointed to them and he said thanks.

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[–] WarpedRecord 16 years ago

I wonder if the sign's still here. It would be nice to make a pilgrimage there with the recent passing of Mr. Newman.

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[–] Misanthwopical_Bweed 14 years ago

My wife is from Winnfield and we went there once in 2001 before we were married. I have a picture of that sign that I took from an overpass where you could see it as you drove by.

The building with the sign is gone now as well as that overpass, torn down to make room for a bigger highway through the town. The Historic Winnfield Hotel which was in the film has been torn down, as well.

Its been over 20 years but it's still one of the most exciting things to ever happen to that tiny town.People there still talk about it as though it were just yesterday.

"The US was founded by a group of slaveowners who told us all men are created equal."

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[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

Thanks for the update! I can understand how this film is still big news in Winnfield, but how sad they've torn down most of the reminders.

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[–] pe81171 14 years ago

It's still worth visiting as the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame is located in Winnfield and you can visit the grave of 'Uncle Earl'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy8ImPFWZRA

The above is a great clip of 'Uncle Earl' in action.

Frank: Just a man.
Harmonica: An ancient race.

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[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

Thanks for that link. That is an amazing clip! It almost seems like a Christopher Guest-style mockumentary. For anyone who thinks Paul Newman's portrayal was too much of a caricature, they need only look at the real Earl Long, who was a total caricature.

What is the grave of Earl Long like?

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[–] pe81171 14 years ago

It has a monument of 'Uncle Earl' and a bench sitting area. Not quite as impressive as the statue to Huey in Baton Rouge but neat nevertheless.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Long

The above has some good pictures of the grave site.

For more on Earl I highly recommend the book 'The Earl of Louisiana' by A.J. Liebling. It is easily available in paperback and is absolutely wonderful. Many scenes from 'Blaze' are taken from it. It has an excellent account of the meltdown of Earl on the floor of the Legislature. Pretty much happened the way Paul Newman plays it in the film.

http://www.amazon.com/Earl-Louisiana-Southern-Biography/dp/0807133434/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283300611&sr=1-1

Frank: Just a man.
Harmonica: An ancient race.

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[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

Thanks very much for the links! I shall seek out "The Earl of Louisiana" (great title).

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[–] pe81171 14 years ago

I agree. It is an absolute treasure of a book. I also very much adore (even though it is written in a more scholarly tone) T. Harry William's Pulitzer Prize winning book 'Huey Long'.

Very fascinating that Louisiana politics could help produce such classic books as 'All the King's Men', 'The Earl of Louisiana', and 'Huey Long' among many others.

Frank: Just a man.
Harmonica: An ancient race.

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[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

Louisiana seems to have quite a colorful past when it comes to politicians, both the oddballs like Earl and the influential statesmen like Huey. Has there been anyone in recent history who would merit such treatment when recent decades are up for review? It seems like recent figures like Edwin Edwards and David Duke have been huge embarrassments for the state.

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[–] pe81171 14 years ago

I agree.

An interesting book on the embarrassing subject of Edwards and Duke's run for the Governor's office in 1991 is 'Cross to Bear' by John Maginnis. Interesting that Edwards is described in the book as having T. Harry Williams Huey Long book on his bookshelf.

Frank: Just a man.
Harmonica: An ancient race.

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