“Devil in a Blue Dress” / 「青いドレスの女」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1996, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) ZA953

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the Japanese release of Devil in a Blue Dress / 「青いドレスの女」, the acclaimed neo-noir mystery directed by Carl Franklin and based on Walter Mosley’s celebrated detective novel.

A refined and atmospheric Japanese release poster, this design captures the film’s 1940s Los Angeles noir mood with a cool blue palette, cigarette-lit close-up imagery, and elegant vertical Japanese typography.

Film background
Set in 1948 Los Angeles, Devil in a Blue Dress follows Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins, an unemployed World War II veteran who accepts a seemingly simple job: to locate a missing woman known to frequent Black jazz clubs. The assignment quickly draws him into a dangerous world of political corruption, murder, racial tension, and hidden identities.

Directed and adapted by Carl Franklin, the film stars Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, and Don Cheadle. It is now widely regarded as one of the strongest modern American neo-noirs of the 1990s, praised for its period atmosphere, Los Angeles setting, and sharp adaptation of Mosley’s source novel.

Poster design
The Japanese poster is built around a striking blue-toned noir composition. A fedora-wearing figure lights a cigarette in close profile, while the soft silhouette of a woman in a blue dress occupies the right side of the design. At lower left, a small silhouetted female figure stands beneath palm trees against an orange sunset, giving the poster a strong Los Angeles atmosphere.

The bold central tagline reads:

「1948年 L.A. 俺を震わせる優しい悪魔。」
“1948 L.A. A gentle devil that makes me tremble.”

The smaller promotional line beneath refers to producer Jonathan Demme, marketing the film as a sensual mystery connected to the director of The Silence of the Lambs.

The Japanese title 「青いドレスの女」 is arranged vertically in elegant black lettering at upper right, with the English title DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS printed beneath. The top also prominently names Denzel Washington, while the lower section contains the film’s production and distribution credits.

The overall design is cool, restrained, and highly cinematic, perfectly suited to a period detective mystery.

Release note
This poster was printed for the film’s original Japanese theatrical release campaign, following its original 1995 U.S. release.

It is an original period Japanese cinema poster, not a later reproduction or commercial reprint.

Condition
Excellent condition. A highly attractive example, with strong blue tones, clean imagery, sharp typography, and excellent overall display impact.

Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.

This is an original Japanese theatrical poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is now over 30 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.