The Dress [1996] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Amazon.co.uk Review

Despite rave reviews as one of the most stylish and intelligent detective pictures in a number of years, this 1995 adaptation of Walter Mosley's novel never found a mass audience. Too bad, because Carl Franklin's film is nearly perfect in every way, from its rich, shadowy look to its depiction of life in post-World War II black America (LA-style) to the acting of Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle and others. Washington plays Easy Rawlins, an aircraft factory worker who is laid off only to find his true calling: as a private eye, albeit an unlicensed one. Hired to find a missing woman, he becomes entangled in a complex but satisfying case involving sex, corruption, racism and of course money. Top-notch from top to bottom--and Cheadle is dangerously funny as Easy's best friend, a killer named Mouse. --Marshall Fine

Amazon.co.uk Review

Despite rave reviews as one of the most stylish and intelligent detective pictures in a number of years, this 1995 adaptation of Walter Mosley's novel never found a mass audience. Too bad, because Carl Franklin's film is nearly perfect in every way, from its rich, shadowy look to its depiction of life in post-World War II black America (LA-style) to the acting of Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle and others. Washington plays Easy Rawlins, an aircraft factory worker who is laid off only to find his true calling: as a private eye, albeit an unlicensed one. Hired to find a missing woman, he becomes entangled in a complex but satisfying case involving sex, corruption, racism and, of course, money. Devil In A Blue Dress is top-notch from top to bottom--and Cheadle is dangerously funny as Easy's best friend, a killer named Mouse. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Noir et Noirs.......2004-08-19

This is a very creditable attempt to recreate (in colour film) the classic California-set films noirs of the 1940's and early 1950's. Opening with, again, a classic explanatory and scene-setting narrative ("In 1945, I..."), the film continues on its way, as the plot unravels smoothly. The only differences between this film and the classic noirs is that they used colour film and that the film is set mainly amid the upwardly mobile and (in some cases) not so upwardly mobile black population of Los Angeles, as it was in the late 1940's. Not at all bad.

denzel and cheadle...what a pair!.......2002-02-20

washington and cheadle make a formidable double act in this complicated but very enjoyable detective yarn set in the 40s. if you enjoy crime thrillers with a difference give this a look, you wont be disappointed.

Devil of a DVD!!.......2002-02-05

Devil in a Blue Dress is a thriller noir set in 1940's after war America.

Denzel Washington leads the cast in one of his best performances thus far, his character, named Easy Rawlins, is an un-employed guy who starts going Private Detective in a desperate bid to pay the mortgage on his house. The plot has a nice set of twists and turns and it even has a voice over like your detective films of the 40's & 50's.

This film is very stylish and moves at a great non-stop pace, the cast is excellent all round, especially Don Cheadle (Swordfish) as Mouse.

The film is presented in a good Anamorphic transfer with very little or no marks on the print.

The sound is Dolby 5.1 and while this film doesn't make that much use of it, with most sound being the talking kind, it is good none the less.

Extra features on the disc include 2 trailers, 1 for 'Devil in a Blue Dress' and one for other Denzel Washington film 'The Bone Collector', there is a Director's Commentary and this is a genuinely good one with Director Carl Franklin showing his passion for the film and he also shares some interesting information about the way in which the film was made, the last extra is Don Cheadle's screen test which lasts 15 minutes, this is actually quite interesting because Don Cheadle's character in the film is easily one of the best.

Overall a film that never got the attention it deserved on cinema release makes a healthy transfer to DVD and is one of the best films of it's kind.

A Must See.......2001-12-01

This movie is a MUST. It might not suite everyone due to its a bit slow at times, however the scene in which DeWitt and Easy are at the docks is Excellent and the scene with Mouse and Easy trying to make Frank Green talk was hillarious.
This is a movie filled with adventure and excitment.
This is your typical 40's movie only ten times better.

Average customer rating:

The Dress [1996] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring: Henri Garcin
Manufacturer: Home Vision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

All World Cinema | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video

Other Languages | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video

All Comedy | Comedy | Categories | DVD | Video

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
ASIN: 6309934538
Release Date: 2006-02-28

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