If shot as a TV movie, this freewheeling biopic would probably have been called The Governor and the Strip Queen, and passed on the sex scenes. Here it's re-crafted as a vehicle for its star (Paul Newman with a quiff) and provides, with a top-notch production, quite good if somewhat protracted entertainment. Senator Earl K Long (an actorly portrait by Newman), first spotted declaring 'I have a weakness for tough-willed, iron-minded, independent women with big hooters', gets all of that and more in Blaze Starr (red-haired Lolia Davidovich, good if not outstanding), a girl from a backwoods family who has become top cat at a plush New Orleans strip joint. She also loves him, in her own way, and the scandal of their affair rocks the governor's seat in more ways than one. Interesting rather than great, this hasn't the sort of script that makes for great cinema, but should still provide Newman fans with much to admire.

©ipc tx. Film content from TVTimes