A Comparison of Devil in a Blue Dress: The Book vs. the Movie

My recent travels for work have unexpectedly led me into the routine of listening to audiobooks. It all started when one of my wife's former students suggested I read Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. The experience was so profound and thought-provoking that I decided to delve deeper into the exploration of African American male characters and their narratives. This renewed interest led me to the works of Walter Mosley, specifically his renowned Easy Rawlins series. Starting with Devil in a Blue Dress, the first book in the series, I was immediately captivated by Mosley's storytelling. I also watched the movie adaptation to immerse myself in Easy's world. The book and the film vividly portray Black life in 1940s Los Angeles. Both capture this time and place in their own unique way (A List of Eleven).

Slow Burn - Looking Through Mind & Community

Devil in a Blue Dress introduces us to Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins, an out-of-work African American WWII veteran trying to make a living in 1948 Los Angeles (A List of Eleven). He's looking for a job when a mysterious white man named Mr. Albright offers him $100 to track down Daphne Monet, a beautiful yet mysterious woman who is politically connected (What Should Have Been). From this seemingly straightforward task, we observe that Mosely builds a multi-layered mystery that pulls Easy deeper into the underbelly of post-war LA. Mosely reveals racial tensions, class divides, hidden truths, and dangerous secrets.

What struck me most about the book was its portrayal of the Black community in Los Angeles during this era. Easy is not a trained detective; he's a resourceful, everyday man. He has learned to apply his life experiences, military training, and curiosity to navigate everyday realities. He is conscious that he is a Black man in a society that sees him as inferior and needs to pursue his own path and independence. His outlook and "swag" give him access to the corners of Compton, Watts, and other iconic African American neighborhoods. He tells the story of a people and a community that is rich in history and resilience. He zooms in on people like Sophia to draw examples of homely southern life and its comparison to the swiftness of the emerging West Coast.

Mosley paints a narrative highlighting the Great Migration, when Black families, primarily from the South, sought opportunities in the West. They were moving to escape segregation and a lack of opportunities in different parts of the South. Mosely's narratives highlight the entrepreneurial spirit of Black people as they struggled to become business owners, support extended relatives, and construct a future of opportunity.

Easy's inner thoughts, especially about his time in the war, provide a richer picture of his mental state. In the book, we learn about his trauma of having to kill white men to survive during combat, only to return home to a country where he must scrape out an existence under oppression. This contrast between his wartime experiences and post-war life adds a more profound complexity to his character and paints a broader picture of survival and resilience.

Just beneath the surface, there's always the threat of violence and crime, simmering and ready to erupt. Mosely doesn't shy away from showing that corruption, greed, and depravity exist both in the wealthiest white enclaves and the poorest Black neighborhoods. Yet, what sets his storytelling apart is that he never preaches. Instead, he drops gems of knowledge at critical moments, leaving readers to pick up on the wisdom in Easy's journey.

Mosely's writing style is captivating, with its vivid descriptions and realistic dialogue. He doesn't preach or spoon-feed the reader; instead, he strategically drops nuggets of wisdom throughout the novel, allowing the story to unfold naturally.

The Movie - Visually Stunning, Swift Pace

The 1995 film adaptation, directed by Carl Franklin and starring Denzel Washington as Easy Rawlins, stays faithful to many of the book's plot points. However, as with many adaptations, the movie necessarily condenses the narrative. While this creates a more streamlined story, it loses some of the book's rich texture. Specific details and nuances are lost in the transition from page to screen (Netflix is Losing).

Denzel Washington's portrayal of Easy is compelling. He brings gravity and moral complexity to the role, embodying Easy's quiet but unyielding strength. Washington's performance is an excellent match for Mosely's character. Yet, while the movie is engaging, it only partially captures the depth of Easy's inner life that Mosely crafts so intricately in the novel. The racial dynamics are also present but less nuanced than in the book. Mosely spends considerable time weaving in the subtleties of how Easy and other Black characters navigate a white-dominated world.
The film excels in its visual representation of 1940s Los Angeles. The costume design, the sets, and the overall aesthetic are immaculate. You're transported to a smoky, sultry, and gritty LA full of jazz clubs, shady bars, and dangerous street corners. The visual atmosphere of the film adds to the noir feel of the story, making it a feast for the eyes.

Of course, the film also adds nuance to references my generation would have forgotten, such as the corded telephone with its loud, urgent ring. The Studebaker was a car I would have never seen.
Denzel Washington's portrayal of Easy is captivating. He embodies the character's quiet strength and moral complexity with depth and conviction. While the movie is visually stunning and well-acted, it only partially captures the intricate layers of Easy's inner life that Mosley meticulously crafted in the novel. The racial dynamics are present but lack the subtlety and depth explored in the book.

The film's strength lies in its visual depiction of 1940s Los Angeles. The costumes, sets, and overall aesthetic transport you back in time. The smoky jazz clubs, dimly lit bars, and bustling street corners create a captivating atmosphere that perfectly complements the noir genre.

Comparing Book and Movie
Ultimately, both the book and the movie succeed in different ways. The book gives you a more profound, intimate experience of Easy's world. You get to hear his thoughts, feel his internal conflicts, and understand the racial dynamics of post-war Los Angeles on a more nuanced level. The novel's ability to linger on certain moments, particularly Easy's interactions with other Black characters, gives it a richness that the film doesn't quite match.

On the other hand, the movie excels in its visual storytelling. It's gripping, suspenseful, and stylish, with solid performances from the cast, especially Washington and Don Cheadle, who plays Mouse, Easy's friend. It's a great companion to the novel. However, it lacks some layered racial commentary that Mosely so expertly weaves throughout the book.

Final Thoughts

Devil in a Blue Dress is a story about survival, identity, and morality (Devil in a Blue Dress: Crossing the Line). Mosely's book provides an intimate look at a Black man trying to make his way in a world of struggle, while the movie visually brings that world to life. The book and the film are worth experiencing, but if you want the total weight of Easy Rawlins' story, the book is where you should start. Mosely's prose offers something that a film, no matter how well done, can't replicate: the inner voice of a Black man navigating the tricky waters of 1940s America.

In both mediums, you can feel the richness of the Black community in its struggles and triumphs. From migration and small business development to the ever-present danger of violence, Easy's World shows the complexities of Black life in post-war LA (What Should Have Been). Mosely's brilliance lies in his ability to present these dynamics without heavy-handed moralizing—he simply drops knowledge gems throughout the story, leaving us to reflect on the layered truths within Easy's world.

Sources

A List Of Eleven Black Male Authors That You Should Add To Your Bookshelf - dreamyvalley. https://dreamyvalley.com/a-list-of-eleven-black-male-authors-that-you-should-add-to-your-bookshelf/

What Should Have Been: Denzel Washington and Devil in a Blue Dress :: SteynOnline. https://www.steynonline.com/13496/what-should-have-been-denzel-washington-and-devil

Devil in a Blue Dress: Crossing the Line | Current | The Criterion Collection. https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7873-devil-in-a-blue-dress-crossing-the-line