Devil in a blue dress is a mystery thriller film directed by Carl Franklin. It follows Easy Rawlins’ fall into the world of crime after being laid off from his job at an aircraft factory. The title of the film refers to Daphne Monet, a missing white woman who Easy is paid to find. I found Easy’s characterization interesting because he’s presented as the traditional American man who just wants to make enough money to pay his mortgage, but his identity and experiences as a black man are still maintained. The film being set in the 1940s helps bring this out alongside showcasing real issues such as workforce discrimination and police brutality. While the film doesn’t take Easy’s character down the tan route, it does reel in more traditional tropes such as the tragic mulatto. Daphne is revealed to being a white passing black woman whose relationship with a wealthy white man running for mayor brings up tensions that reflect the 1940’s American attitude towards interracial relationships. I think the films time period helped enhance the tone of the story because the systemic racial issues of the 40’s makes the story feel a bit more authentic in terms of building tension and suspense.
I like your conclusions. It's more than a day late though.