Devil in a Blue Dress
Tags: neo noir, murder, violence, atmospheric, plot twist, suspenseful

Plot synopsis:
Set in 1948, in the Watts area of Los Angeles, the story begins with Easy out-of-work and unable to pay his mortgage. He is sitting in a bar run by Joppy, a friend from Texas, when a man named DeWitt Albright walks into the bar and offers him a job finding a young woman named Daphne Monet. Monet, a young white woman, is rumored to be hanging out in bars frequented mostly by African Americans, although white women are allowed inside.
At the bar Easy meets two old friends, Coretta and Dupree from Texas, among many other people that he knew from his former life in the South. Coretta says that she knows Daphne, but gives an incorrect address to Easy. He goes home with them and has sex with Coretta, although Dupree is asleep next room, and then leaves her in the early morning only to be arrested by the LAPD shortly thereafter and, after some questioning, he is told that Coretta is dead and that he is a suspect in Coretta's murder.
When he finally does find Monet, he figures out that she has stolen a large amount of money from a man named Todd Carter, who is a local wealthy businessman. Albright wanted to claim it for himself. Eventually, Albright finds Monet through Easy, who is trying to shield the thieving woman.
With the help of his friend Mouse (who shows up mid-way through the story, due to a half-hearted invitation from Easy and domestic strife back home in Texas) he finds Monet with Albright and Joppy. They rescue her, kill Joppy and Albright, and then Mouse reveals that Monet is actually Ruby, an African-American woman passing as white, and the sister of a local gangster named Green. Mouse and Easy blackmail Ruby, taking her money and dividing it into thirds for each of them. Daphne/Ruby leaves shortly thereafter and Easy has to clean up the mess with the police and Todd Carter, who had initially hired Albright to find her as he really did love her and not his money.
Easy approaches Carter and requests his help with the police. He blackmails him by saying that he will leak the information about his love for a black woman unless he is protected from the law. Carter does so. At the conclusion, Mouse goes back to Texas, Easy takes up detective work, and Ruby disappears.

Review: Denzel Washington plays Easy Rawlins, a down-on-his-luck sometime machinist, sometime detective in late-1940's L.A. Seems someone wants him to find a mysterious white lady in a blue dress (Jennifer Beals)who's thought to have been seen in a blacks-only club.
The atmosphere is a major asset here; director Carl Franklin has done a magnificent job not only of recreating the Los Angeles of the late forties but also of showing the story from the black perspective, a rarity in film.
Washington's aces, of course, as usual; makes you wonder if he'll do any more adaptations of Walter Mosley books starring Easy Rawlins.
An out of work WWII vet(Denzel Washington)is trapped in a web of lies, backstabbing and flying lead when he agrees to look for a politician's girlfriend(Jennifer Beals).
Don Cheadle is stand out as the cold killer with a smile, mouse.But the real praise must go to Carl Franklin, who proves that One false move' was not just a fluke As much as I liked the film 'L.A. Confidential' my problem with it was that a lot of black characters where being brutalised, without any chance to fight back.
We have a black hero, someone who is as smart anyone else and in some cases smarter.I hope that one day someone will film the rest of the Easy' Rawlins books..
It puts you right into the late 40s in Los Angeles, a little bit like the film Chinatown.Denzel Washington does a nice job with the narration and the lead role, the character of "Easy Rawlins," off the book by Walter Moseley (which I read and recommend).
Tom Sizemore and Don Cheadle play very intense characters in supporting roles, particularly Cheadle as the trigger-happy "Mouse." Jennifer Beals is alluring as the mysterious "Daphne Monet."The film is a bit confusing in parts and was especially so for me since the book was not exactly the same and had a totally different ending.
Because Walter Mosley's stories are great and I was surprised that none of the other Easy Rawlins books have been filmed.
I read Devil in a Blue Dress before I saw the movie and when I saw Mouse brought to life, I could barely wait for the credits to roll--"Who WAS that guy?"Washington brings Easy to life too, and the recreation of Watts and L.A. in the late 40's/ early 50's is excellent (I was there).The movie wasn't great, but way above ordinary, and I'd love to see a reprise with Washington and Cheadle..
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)I wanted to like this movie.
This is really clear when a truly brilliant actor arrives on the scene—Don Cheadle—and in his moments there is finally a rising up and synthesis of intentions.The plot is almost a given—a detective on the outs faces a terrible crime, and a mysterious woman (call her a femme fatale if you want, but she's too plastic to work for me).
It stars Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, Don Cheadle and Maury Chaykin.
Taking on a job offered by shifty DeWitt Albright (Sizemore), to find a missing woman, Rawlings quickly finds himself in up to his neck in murder and deception, he must turn ace detective to save his skin.Set in late 1940s Los Angeles, what instantly stands out is the period detail.
With voice over narration also provided by Washington, in dry and sardonic tones, it's every inch a loving ode to the film noir movies released at the time the pic is set.
Tech credits are high, something of a given with Bernstein and Fujimoto on the list, while Washington turns in another classy show of subtlety and believability.Lovers of film noir should get much rewards from Devil in a Blue Dress.
Denzel does a good job and Don Cheadle gives a great performance as Mouse.
Devil In A Blue Dress takes the classic Raymond Chandler mystery form and uproots it just a smidge, setting it in the African American community of 1948 Los Angeles, with terrific results.
Noir takes on a double meaning (naughty pun) as WWII vet turned private eye Ezekial "Easy" Rawlins (Denzel Washington) finds himself mired in the quick sands of corruption, coersion and murder most foul after taking on a job that's led him straight to the dirtiest little secret in town.
After he accepts a missing persons inquiry from mysterious DeWitt Allbright (Tom Sizemore, first shady and then downright scary when we see what he's really about), he finds himself searching for a girl named Daphne (Jennifer Beals) a runaway with ties to a very powerful politician (Maury Chaykin makes your skin creep and crawl) with some seriously disturbing extra curricular activities.
A good film noir by Carl Franklin (One False Move), with great cinematography by Tak Fujimoto ("John Adams", The Sixth Sense).Denzel Washington is fantastic as 'Easy' Rawlins, with Don Cheadle as his buddy, Mouse.
They battle Tom Sizemore in their quest to find Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals).You have the look and feel of the 30s throughout with the costuming, the cars, the talk, the cops, and the feel of the movie.
It was a great nostalgia trip.Lisa Nicole Carson ("Ally McBeal") also added some excitement before her premature death.This was based on the first of Walter Mosely's Easy Rawlins books, and it is a good one..
Cheadle is terrific as the sociopathic Mouse, his scenes are the best in the movie and his twenty minutes or so of screen time make the entire thing worthwhile.
A Fantastic 90's film noir Carl Franklin creates a movie that draws you in and it holds your attention from the beginning of the movie When Easy is hired to do the job to the films Unexpected ending this movie showcases aspects of the Easy Rawlins Books it keeps in touch with Author Walter Mosely's vision and not a lot of books can say that.
Devil in a blue dress is streamlined and it does not have the distractions that confidential does It Is simple Easy Rawlins is hired to do a job based on his skin color alone Easy needs the money but Easy is also a man of conscience who will not just stand by and let the bad guys win even if it costs him in the end.
Easy Rawlins is a moral man and Denzel Washington's portrayal of him is excellent as is Don Cheadle's chilling portrayal of Mouse Easy's best friend who is also a killer and who has strong legalities to his only friend.A all the way round rewarding movie that does stay in your memory long after you see it..
(By the way I highly recommend you visit from time to time.)  Our meeting brought back memories when we worked together so I thought it would be interesting to share a bit of trivia about the book this movie is based on.I worked with Walter at Mobil Corporation in the 1980's before he began his next career writing novels (I think we call this a good career move).
I been a Walter Mosley fan for years and I can't wait to see his other Easy Rawlins books made into movies especially "Black Betty" my all time favorite Mosley book.
As for Devil in a Blue Dress, it wasn't too bad at all, the acting was good, though I never pictured Mouse as a dark skinned character (maybe because his nickname "Mouse" makes one picture a short mousy-brown guy who is nervous, a little jumpy and quietly deadly looking such as actors Mark Curry or Cuba Gooding Jr., either of them would have been perfect to play "Mouse", though Mark Curry is better for the roll...
It was great to see a very young Denzel Washington(Easy Rawlins),"Training Day",'01, who managed to have his own home in Los Angeles and was very well liked by his neighbors and many friends.
Easy Rawlins meets Jennifer Beals,(Daphne Monet),"Break a Leg",'03, who seems to get him in all kinds of trouble, however, there is a great spark and attraction between the two of them.
With brooding and insidious male characters, beautiful and mysterious female characters, voiceover narration by the protagonist, and a gradually revelatory, detective-like storyline we get the sense that we're watching a more-colorful-than-usual film noir.
Easy Rawlins (Washington) is a familiar character - he's a man who will do just about whatever he has to do in order to earn some cash, although he's proud of his dignity and won't sell himself short.
Easy Rawlins is in trouble over a devil in a blue dress..
Easy must find a way to clear his name and to protect himself when the devil comes calling.The Movie is almost faithful to the book.
Carl Franklin carefully crafts this adaptation into a suspenseful film noir And Denzel Washington shows us why he is the only choice to play Easy Rawlins .
Devil in a Blue Dress definitely had a large LA Noir feel to it; I got this vibe because of the general outfits of the characters and the set design.
All the elements of a good origin story for a movie franchise or a television adaptation (like "MASH") are there: a compelling main character ("Easy Rawlings") a setup for further adventures and the books of Walter Mosley for plot ideas.
However, all of these elements are employed to far more compelling effect in a movie two years later called "L.A. Confidential." In short, fans of noir or Washington / Cheadle should find this as required reading while others should just go with "L.A. Confidential"..
That is the start of this complicated story with many plot turns, too complicated to summarize."Devil in a Blue Dress" is sort of an african-american version of the classic movie "Chinatown" (1974).
When Ezekiel 'Easy' Rawlins loses his job he begins to worry how he'll make ends meet when DeWitt Albright offers him cash to help find Daphne Monet, the fiancée of politician Todd Carter.
When Ezekiel 'Easy' Rawlins loses his job he begins to worry how he'll make ends meet when DeWitt Albright offers him cash to help find Daphne Monet, the fiancée of politician Todd Carter.
Stuck between the police and Albright's men, Easy has to uncover why Monet is so important to so many people and save himself from jail.Franklin's greatest achievement here is the way he brings the period to life, albeit with a certain amount of nostalgic love for the idea.
Stuck between the police and Albright's men, Easy has to uncover why Monet is so important to so many people and save himself from jail.Franklin's greatest achievement here is the way he brings the period to life, albeit with a certain amount of nostalgic love for the idea.
The film doesn't really play on racism or the race of Easy but it does make race an equal influence (with money, power and influence) on the plot and the characters.Washington plays Easy well, reacting well to things and being a good character.
The film doesn't really play on racism or the race of Easy but it does make race an equal influence (with money, power and influence) on the plot and the characters.Washington plays Easy well, reacting well to things and being a good character.
An Universal Story Of An Honest Oppressed Man. This is not just a movie about post war blacks in America, but an universal story about oppressed honest people everywhere and the moral corruption they must live with to survive.The movie is so enjoyable that you can easily miss the underlying truths of this great film.
STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All CostsDenzel Washington demonstrates his under-usedness as an actor with this intricate film noir.With a complicated and informative story, and with characters you can never fully comprehend until each of their final revelations,it is definetely worth catching.***.
War vet Easy Rawlins (Denzel Washington) from Texas needs a new job with few options.
Denzel Washington plays Easy Rawlins, the main character.
And the movie has a plot that actually makes sense, has twists and turns and ends up somewhere that makes sense, too.I thought I had seen it when it came out 20 years ago and don't remember having been too impressed; that must have been another Denzel Washington or Walter Mosley effort.
Kinda a neo-noir movie (although it doesn't exactly fits into that description – for example Easy isn't a detective ).I like the mood of Harlem here .
...."If you didn't want him killed," Mouse asks Easy, "Then why did you leave him with me?"  Violence is not easily controlled, but the black man has few alternatives in today's America.
"The Devil in a Blue Dress" is all about Washington's character, a 1948 veteran who is recently unemployed and takes earnest money for a simple errand from a man of dubious character only to find himself as the suspect in a murder case with tentacles reaching into the underworld and politics.
I yesterday had the opportunity to re-watch Devil In A Blue Dress again on Belgian (Flemish) television.This is a great movie, one that finally deals with the detective genre from a Black perspective.
There may be shortcomings (like Denzel Washington not getting the girl - something that was about to become a bad habit), but who's looking for them?Of all the characters, Denzel Washington is pretty good, as is Jennifer Beals (as are an extremely likeable Jernard Burks as Dupree Brouchard and Mel Winkler as the devious Joppy, but the guy who makes the movie, it's pace, and it's heart is DON CHEADLE as Mouse!It is a real shame that Walter Mosley's characters haven't found their way to television - this movie should have become a serial.
This film is a terrific little under looked indy,  featuring Denzel Washington as the infamous "Easy Rawlins".
Well crafted and with a palpable sense of danger and suspense,  filled with terrific camera work and GREAT supporting actors-  check out Don Cheadle as "Mouse"- this is a nice movie all the way around.
In "Devil In A Blue Dress" the audience's inclination to respond in this way is made even stronger by the use of a narration which also helps to drive the story forward.In 1948 L.A. World War 11 veteran, ex-factory worker and homeowner Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins (Denzel Washington) finds himself unemployed and in urgent need of funds to keep his mortgage payments up to date.
Through his efforts to complete his investigations, Easy gets well rewarded financially but also gets involved in some more life threatening violence."Devil In A Blue Dress" is a Raymond Chandler influenced thriller with a typically complicated plot about blackmail, murder, immorality and corruption which also features numerous moments of unexpected humour.
Daphne Monet's romance was blighted by racism and Easy's discomfort in situations where he had to cross the line was also very clear.This movie features a fascinating bunch of characters and the choice of Denzel Washington for the lead role is perfect as he personifies so well the down to earth nature of a decent man who has to deal with difficult circumstances.
Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins (Denzel Washington) returned from World War II a few years ago to a land of opportunity.
Desperate to keep making his mortgage payments, Easy accepts the job of finding the girlfriend, a woman named Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals).
The supporting players are all equally good, with Don Cheadle in the flashiest role as a friendly killer.Jennifer Beals as the mysterious and missing devil in the blue dress is competent and attractive.
This lady was the girlfriend of a rich Los Angeles businessman who is running for mayor and he wants her.What this movie turns out to be is a detective story.
Sooner than later, Coretta winds up a stiff and Rawlins finds himself swirling to the bottom of a whole lot of trouble...Denzel Washington is spot on as Easy Rawlings, who simply wants to settle down into a middle class life with the rest of the World War II veterans, but finds his true calling as a Private Investigator.
"Devil in a Blue Dress" is one of those period pieces that so proficiently captures its particular time and place (1940s Los Angeles, the greatest setting in cinema).
But it's a well made movie all around, with a well-chosen cast (Denzel Washington, who injects Easy Rawlins with a naive charm; the staggeringly sexy Jennifer Beals; Tom Sizemore, a snake-in-the-grass all the way; and some great supporting character faces.
Devil in a Blue Dress stars Denzel Washington as "Easy" Rawlins, a hard working man trying to achieve the American dream in the 40's.
Devil in a Blue Dress plays out like a noir film.
It's equipped with a voice over by Washington as well as dames with long legs (Jennifer Beals.) Denzel gives his normal amazing performance, but he's overshadowed by Don Cheadle, who plays Easy's homicidal homie.
If you're a fan of some of the actors in the film or a fan of the genre, I would highly recommend Devil in a Blue Dress..
The only question is: are you on top of that trouble or not?" - Easy Rawlins "Devil In A Blue Dress" wants to be the African American "Chinatown", and director Carl Franklin comes close.
The movie is about 85% faithful to the book and even with that in mind it didn't destroy the fond memories of the novel.The story: Easy Rawlins(Denzel Washington) is a world war veteran that is fired from his job at a defense plant.
Things in his life get worse when he meets a mysterious fellow by the name of Dewitt Albright(Tom Sizemore) pays him money to find a woman by the name of Daphne Monet(Jennifer Beals).Denzel is perfect as Easy Rawlins and I doubt I could have picked a better person to play Ezekiel Rawlins.
Don Cheadle does a pretty good job as Mouse, Easy's crazy but loyal friend.
Despite that Devil In A Blue Dress is still a treat not just for the fans of Walter Mosley's famous book but to the fans of black cinema period.