Forget The Equalizer — Denzel’s True Franchise Should Have Been Devil in a Blue Dress
Denzel Washington starred in the 1995 noir Devil in a Blue Dress, directed by Carl Franklin and based on Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins character, and the film is now part of the Criterion Collection and available to stream on Hulu. This piece lists verifiable facts about the movie, its source material, key collaborators, later connections between the actors and director, and links to contemporary coverage and related films.
- What the film is and when it came out.
- Who made it and who appears in it.
- Source novels and current availability.
- Connected projects and additional reading/viewing links.
Basic facts
Devil in a Blue Dress was released in 1995. It stars Denzel Washington as Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins and was directed by Carl Franklin. The film adapts Walter Mosley’s 1990 novel of the same name, which introduced the Easy Rawlins private-eye character.
Source material and continuity
Walter Mosley created Easy Rawlins, who appears in a series of novels spanning several decades. As of 2024, the Easy Rawlins books number 16, and the most recent novel is Farewell, Amethystine (2024). The character’s book series follows Easy from the 1940s into later decades.
Cast, crew, and later collaborations
The film’s principal cast includes Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle (as Mouse), and the late Tom Sizemore. Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle later appeared together again in Flight (2012). Carl Franklin and Washington also worked together on the 2003 thriller Out of Time.
How the film is discussed
Some contemporary and later writers contrasted Devil in a Blue Dress with the franchise films that featured Washington as a vigilante figure. For examples, see a review roundup at Film School Rejects and an analysis at The A.V. Club.
Context on Washington’s 1990s work
In the 1990s, Washington appeared in a range of thrillers and dramas. Examples linked by their listings include a legal drama, a military thriller, a supernatural-tinged thriller, and a film about virtual reality discussed at Decider.
Style and themes
The film is set in 1948 Los Angeles and combines private-eye noir plotting with elements of social history focused on race and postwar life in the city. The plot follows Easy Rawlins after a job loss; he becomes an unlicensed investigator for a case involving a missing woman and encounters organized crime, political figures, and twists typical of noir.
Notable scene quote
One oft-cited line from Don Cheadle’s character Mouse appears during a confrontation: “If you ain’t want him killed, why’d you leave him with me?”
Director’s later work and recognition
Carl Franklin continued to direct, with a career that includes episodic television credits on shows such as The Leftovers, Homeland, and Mindhunter. The film Devil in a Blue Dress and Franklin’s One False Move are listed in the Criterion Collection catalog.
Availability and related titles
Devil in a Blue Dress is currently streaming on Hulu. In addition, Denzel Washington later starred in a film series based on The Equalizer, with theatrical films released in 2014, 2018, and 2023.
