ThrillerCrimeMystery

Devil in a Blue Dress

- Private detective Easy Rawlins has been caught on the wrong side of the most dangerous secret in town.

In late 1940s Los Angeles, Easy Rawlins is an unemployed black World War II veteran with few job prospects. At a bar, Easy meets DeWitt Albright, a mysterious white man looking for someone to investigate the disappearance of a missing white woman named Daphne Monet, who he suspects is hiding out in one of the city's black jazz clubs. Strapped for money and facing house payments, Easy takes the job, but soon finds himself in over his head.

Release Date : 1995-09-29

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Mundy Lane EntertainmentTriStar PicturesClinica Estetico

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Easy Rawlins

Original Name : Denzel Washington

Gender : Male

Character Name : DeWitt Albright

Original Name : Tom Sizemore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Daphne Monet

Original Name : Jennifer Beals

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mouse Alexander

Original Name : Don Cheadle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Matthew Terell

Original Name : Maury Chaykin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Todd Carter

Original Name : Terry Kinney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joppy

Original Name : Mel Winkler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Degan Odell

Original Name : Albert Hall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Coretta James

Original Name : Lisa Nicole Carson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dupree Brouchard

Original Name : Jernard Burks

Gender : Male

Character Name : Junior Fornay

Original Name : David Fonteno

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mason

Original Name : John Roselius

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miller

Original Name : Beau Starr

Gender : Male

Character Name : Benny Giacomo

Original Name : Steven Randazzo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard McGee

Original Name : Scott Lincoln

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hattie Parsons

Original Name : L. Scott Caldwell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Woodcutter

Original Name : Barry Shabaka Henley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Shariff

Original Name : Nick Corello

Gender : Male

Character Name : Manny

Original Name : Kenny Endoso

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frank Green

Original Name : Joseph Latimore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barbara

Original Name : Renée Humphrey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Herman

Original Name : R.J. Knoll

Gender : Male

Character Name : Football

Original Name : Kai Lennox

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barbara’s Sister

Original Name : Poppy Montgomery

Gender : Female

Character Name : Terell’s Chauffeur

Original Name : Brendan Kelly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carter’s Secretary

Original Name : Peggy Rea

Gender : Female

Character Name : Baxter

Original Name : Vinny Argiro

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sophie

Original Name : Deborah Lacey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Alphonso Jenkins

Original Name : Jeris Poindexter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Butcher

Original Name : Frank Davis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy with Toy Rifle (uncredited)

Original Name : John David Washington

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Everyone was peeing on my head and telling me it's raining. Devil in a Blue Dress is written and directed by Carl Franklin, who adapts from the book written by Walter Mosley. It stars Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, Don Cheadle and Maury Chaykin. Music is by Elmer Bernstein and cinematography by Tak Fujimoto. Carl Franklin had already laid down a considerable neo-noir marker with his searing 1992 thriller One False Move, here he goes more traditional but garners equally impressive results. Plot has Washington as a WW2 veteran who has lost his job and desperately needs money to keep hold of his pride and joy - his house. 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. The clothes, the cars and the establishments frequented by Easy and company. 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. There's plenty of neon signs about the place, some bad ass cops, good sex, brandy and sharp suits, smoking and coolness and of course a psychopath in the classic mould (Cheadle excellent). But of course noir dressage is only that if you haven't got a good pot boiling plot, thankfully this has one. The story takes unexpected turns, always remaining interesting, the distinctive characterisations breathing heavy, managing to off set the run of the mill stereotypes in the supporting ranks. It can be argued that Beals as the titular femme fatale of the title is under written, but the character comes with an air of mystery that serves Franklin's atmosphere very well. 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. 7.5/10