The Devil in a Blue Dress - Film Analysis Essay

Introduction

After analyzing my experience in the AERO Theatre watching 'The Devil in a Blue Dress,' my viewpoint of theatres showing the old movies changed. This is because my experience was beyond the expectations. Below is a summary of the plot of the film after watching it in the AERO.

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'The Devil in a Blue Dress' is an American mystery film written and directed by Carl Franklin (Franklin, et al.). The film was released in September 1995 in the United States, hitting a total box office of $16 million. However, the plot of the film is based on several social interactions between the actors.

At the start of the film, East Rawlins is distressed with emotions following his unemployment in the Champion Aircraft. Easy Rawlins used to work in the aircraft center, and he was recently laid off. Consequently, he is unable to pay off his mortgages due to the shortage of money. He thus needs money to pay the loans he had borrowed. A bar owner named Joppy, a friend to Rawlins introduces him to DeWitt Albright. Albright is a white man who has a mission of finding a missing woman named Daphne Monet, and he suspects her to be living in the African American community, and also being the girlfriend of Carter Todd, a wealthy guy in the community. Therefore, Albright offers Rawlins $100 to take the job of helping in finding the missing woman. Rawlins has no otherwise rather than to accept it because of his financial needs.

Soon after Rawlins accept the offer, he begins to search for the woman in the illegal clubs. He gets the information that the woman is believed to be hiding in the Central Avenue, particularly the Juke Joints. He thus proceeds to the suspected place that is the Central Avenue. On the entrance of the club, Rawlins sees the commotion between the club's bouncer and the white man named Richard McGee. He ignores the commotion and he meets with some of the new friends in the club- Dupree Brouchard, Degan Odell, and Coretta James. However, after spending the night in the club with Coretta and getting more information about Daphne, Rawlins discovers that Daphne was one of the gangster members of the group named Frank Green.

Afterward, Albright calls easy to set a meeting at Malibu Pier. As Rawlins awaits Albright, several white youths appeared in front of Rawlins and confronted him for talking to one of their girlfriends in the club. Suddenly, Albright appears from the darkness and calmed the situation and beats one of the youths. Rawlins is upset, but he ignores the act and gives his desired information to Albright about the missing woman. Albright pays him more to continue with the search.

After parting with Albright, Rawlins goes home and he is arrested by two LAPD detectives. He does not understand the reason for his arrest, but he later learns that Coretta was murdered after spending the night with him in the club. Rawlins is later released after receiving worse treatments by the detectives. On his way to home, Terell follows him with his adopted son. Terell was a candidate in the mayoral race, and he was also looking for Daphne. Rawlins gets worried and demanded to be dropped after Terell telling him that he is looking for Daphne.

While in his house, Rawlins is awakened by the nightmare about the murder of Coretta. Daphne calls immediately and asks him to meet at an Ambassador Hotel. They meet, and Daphne asks Rawlins to help her go into the Hollywood Hills to get the vital information about Carter. Rawlins accepts the request and he drives her to the destination.

The next day, Rawlins returns home. He finds Albright and his goons waiting for him. Albright blackmails Rawlins and uses his connection of the murder of Coretta to continue searching for the girl. Rawlins gets upset and asks help from his friend, Mouse Alexander. Rawlins' aim is to uncover why Daphne is important and why she is wanted by several people.

Afterward, Rawlins meets with Carter and finds out that Albright was never employed by Carter to find Daphne. Rawlins returns home and he finds Frank Green. They both fight, but Frank gets the upper hand. Rawlins is rescued by Mouse, but Frank manages to escape. However, Rawlins and Mouse find out that Coretta has been in possession of naked pictures of some of the children with Terell, and that is why she has been hiding.

After finding more pieces of evidence from friends, Rawlins finds out that Daphne has also been hiding from Carter because of his friendship with Frank Green. Albright breaks into Rawlins house where they took Daphne and beating up Rawlins. After Rawlins becomes conscious, he goes to find Albright. Rawlins continues to find more information about Daphne and the photographs she possessed. Rawlins also learns that the huge sum of money that Daphne had, came from the family of Carte as a bribe to convince Daphne to move out of the town.

Conclusion

The film ends with Rawlins giving the photographs to Carter and proofing to him the facts about Terell. Carters promise Rawlins that there will be no more troubles from the police.

Works Cited

Franklin, Carl, et al. Devil in a blue dress. Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1998.