Safe in Hell

19311931
PassedPassed
1h 13m

Dorothy Mackaill in Safe in Hell (1931)

After accidentally killing the man who raped her and forced her into prostitution, a New Orleans woman flees to a Caribbean island. While she awaits her fiancé, the vicious local police chie... Read allAfter accidentally killing the man who raped her and forced her into prostitution, a New Orleans woman flees to a Caribbean island. While she awaits her fiancé, the vicious local police chief sets his sights on her.After accidentally killing the man who raped her and forced her into prostitution, a New Orleans woman flees to a Caribbean island. While she awaits her fiancé, the vicious local police chief sets his sights on her.

Director
- William A. Wellman
Writers
- Houston Branch(play)
- Joseph Jackson(adaptation & dialogue)
- Maude Fulton(adaptation & dialogue)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Donald Cook, Ralf Harolde, Dorothy Mackaill, and John Wray in Safe in Hell (1931)

Dorothy Mackaill and Victor Varconi in Safe in Hell (1931)

Dorothy Mackaill in Safe in Hell (1931)

Gustav von Seyffertitz, Noble Johnson, Dorothy Mackaill, Ivan F. Simpson, and John Wray in Safe in Hell (1931)

Dorothy Mackaill in Safe in Hell (1931)

Safe in Hell (1931)

Donald Cook and Dorothy Mackaill in Safe in Hell (1931)

Nina Mae McKinney in Safe in Hell (1931)

Safe in Hell (1931)

Dorothy Mackaill in Safe in Hell (1931)

Dorothy Mackaill and Nina Mae McKinney in Safe in Hell (1931)

Nina Mae McKinney in Safe in Hell (1931)

Dorothy Mackaill

Gilda Carlson - aka Gilda Ericksonas Gilda Carlson - aka Gilda Erickson

Carl Bergen - aka Carl Ericksonas Carl Bergen - aka Carl Erickson

Piet Van Saalas Piet Van Saal

Eganas Egan

Ivan F. Simpson

Crunchas Crunch
(as Ivan Simpson)

General Emmanuel Jesus Maria Gomezas General Emmanuel Jesus Maria Gomez

Mr. Bruno - the Hangmanas Mr. Bruno - the Hangman

Nina Mae McKinney

Leonie - the Hotel Manageras Leonie - the Hotel Manager

Charles Middleton

Lawyer Jonesas Lawyer Jones

Newcastle - the Porteras Newcastle - the Porter

Gustav von Seyffertitz

Larsonas Larson
(as Gustav Von Seyffertitz)

Bobo - a Caribbean Policemanas Bobo - a Caribbean Policeman

Cecil Cunningham

Angieas Angie

Court Policemanas Court Policeman
(uncredited)

Judgeas Judge
(uncredited)

Jury Memberas Jury Member
(uncredited)

Jury Memberas Jury Member
(uncredited)

Kenneth MacDonald

Wireless Operatoras Wireless Operator
(uncredited)

Director
- William A. Wellman
Writers
- Houston Branch(play)
- Joseph Jackson(adaptation & dialogue)
- Maude Fulton(adaptation & dialogue)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

Employees' Entrance

7.2

Employees' Entrance

Heroes for Sale

7.3

Heroes for Sale

Night Nurse

7.0

The Story of Temple Drake

7.1

The Story of Temple Drake

Midnight Mary

7.0

Blonde Crazy

7.1

Ladies of Leisure

6.7

Ladies of Leisure

Three on a Match

7.2

Three on a Match

Gabriel Over the White House

6.4

Gabriel Over the White House

Ex-Lady

6.7

Female

6.7

Frisco Jenny

6.9

Sought by the New Orleans police for accidentally killing the man who raped her and forced her into prostitution, a woman flees New Orleans for a Caribbean island. Surrounded by lecherous criminals, she awaits the return of her fiancé and seems to be holding her own until the treachery of the local police chief leaves her but one choice to gain her freedom. —indexcard

prostitute false confession murder tropical island hotel fire 138 more

Taglines
- Lost in a land of forgotten men- Hell lower than that from which she fled. (Print Ad- Lockport Union-Sun and Journal, ((Lockport NY)) 1 February 1932)
Genres
- Crime
- Drama
Certificate
- Passed
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
Originally Barbara Stanwyck was cast as Gilda, and was even in the rehearsals. Columbia studio filed an injunction stating that Stanwyck had jumped her contract to work for Warners and still owed Columbia one film. Eventually the court granted Columbia's injunction, Mackaill (who was already in production as Gilda in wardrobe fittings) got the lead, and Stanwyck went back to Columbia to make Forbidden (1932).

Goofs
While Carl is away, Gilda supposedly plays over 3400 games of solitaire in two weeks. Assuming an average of five minutes per game, this would require her to play at least 16 hours every single day.

Quotes
Lawyer Jones: [Mr. Bruno, the island's executioner, has just joined them] How's tricks?
Mr. Bruno - the Hangman: There are no tricks in my business. When a man hangs... he hangs.
Lawyer Jones: What a satisfactory way to get rid of one's enemies.
Mr. Bruno - the Hangman: I *have* no enemies.
Gen. Emmanuel Jesus Maria Gomez: No "living" enemies, eh, Señor?
Mr. Bruno - the Hangman: As jailer and executioner of this island, I may not be popular with the criminal element. But my activities are confined to island crime. While we do not believe in the international law of extradition, our own laws are very strict. But as long as you behave yourselves here, you are safe from both jail and gallows... "safe in hell."

Crazy credits
The title card shows burning flames covering the letters of the title.

Connections
Featured in Complicated Women (2003)

Soundtracks
Pagan Moon
(1931) (uncredited)
Music by Joseph A. Burke
Played during the opening and ending credits
Played often in the score

Top review

6/10

Another fascinating pre-code gem

Safe In Hell is is a cross between Sadie Thompson and The Getaway, with Dorothy Mackaill in stunning form as the 'bad girl' who runs away to a remote Caribbean island to escape her past. Director William Wellman delivers another quality picture, and we get to see Nina Mae McKinney's star power on display (including one hot jazz number!). The story is silly but fans of early thirties cinema need to see this.

helpful•19

2

JohnSeal
Apr 5, 2000

Release date
- December 12, 1931 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- The Lost Lady
Filming locations
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Production company
- First National Pictures
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
1 hour 13 minutes
Color
- Black and White
Sound mix
- Mono
Aspect ratio
- 1.20 : 1

Adventures in Punk: F.J. Ossang Discusses "9 Fingers"

Favorite Moments from Locarno Festival 2017: Schönberg, Seriously Silly, Love Stories

Dorothy Mackaill in Safe in Hell (1931)

Top Gap

By what name was Safe in Hell (1931) officially released in Canada in English?

More to explore

View list

The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in December

See the full list

Image caption not available

What to Watch in December

Watch the video

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.