278:
authorities—forcing him to flee the country. Bruno, now pretending to be concerned for Gilda's safety, gives her a pistol to protect herself. When Van Saal comes to her room and attempts to rape her, Gilda shoots and kills him. She is tried for murder and seems destined for acquittal by a sympathetic jury. While awaiting the official verdict, Bruno tells her that even if she is found innocent, he will arrest her for possessing the "deadly weapon" he had given to her. The sentence will be at least six months in his prison camp, where he will provide her with very comfortable living conditions in return for sexual favors.
295:
399:—Nina Mae McKinney and Clarence Muse—are almost the "only positive and reputable" figures in the film. The two minority actors also spoke in standard American English in the film, even though their lines had been written originally in "Negro dialect". William Wellman's biographer, Frank T. Thompson, speculated that either McKinney and Muse, who were popular favorites at the time, had enough clout with the studio to avoid using a racially stereotyped style of speaking or Wellman "just wanted to avoid a convenient cliche."
493:
credence to an impossible yarn. It doesn't help, for as long as the story is thoroughly unbelievable up to the finish, no ending could change that impression. Those who go for this sort of stuff won't care for the exit...Nina Mae McKinney, with one song, and
Clarence Muse are the colored comedy relief, but up against too much of a handicap in the form of a constantly depressing air of evil which prevails throughout the picture.
270:), smuggles her to safety to Tortuga, an island in the Caribbean Sea from which she cannot be extradited. On the island, Gilda and Carl get "married" without a clergyman to officiate, and she swears to be faithful to him. After Carl leaves on his ship, Gilda discovers she is the only white woman in a hotel full of international criminals, all of whom try to seduce her. Especially persistent is Mr. Bruno (
512:
disparaged the film in its
February 1, 1932 issue, characterizing its plot as illogical and its presentation unintentionally humorous: "Miss Mackaill is too good for the likes of her role while the villains are acted with self-conscious bestiality and amusing indifference." The newspaper then states
492:
Picture's story is hardboiled and sordid. Too much so most of the time, which is "Safe in Hell's" chief deficiency. Dorothy
Mackaill plays a bad lady all the way to the finish, when she reforms morally while on her way to the gallows...A sad and unsatisfactory finish is obviously an attempt to lend
281:
Gilda rushes back to the judge and falsely confesses to killing Van Saal "in cold blood", preferring to be executed rather than break her vow to Carl. As Gilda awaits her execution, she is surprised by Carl's return. He happily tells her about his new job and begins making plans for their life
274:), who describes himself as "the jailer and executioner of this island". He intercepts letters Carl sends to her and steals the support money he includes. Bruno's intention is to make Gilda think Carl has abandoned her, hoping she will seek his assistance once she becomes desperate for cash.
277:
Later, Gilda is astonished and relieved when Van Saal suddenly arrives on the island. He explains that he had faked his death and enlisted his wife to collect on his $ 50,000 life-insurance policy. After receiving the money, Van Saal abandoned his wife, who then revealed his fraud to the
31:
282:
together back in New
Orleans. Rather than telling him the truth about her circumstances, Gilda tearfully bids him goodbye and leaves him with the impression that she will join him soon. After he departs, Gilda, followed by two policemen and Bruno, slowly walks to the
487:
described the film's storyline as implausible and its overall tone excessively dark. The publication also noted that McKinney and Muse's performances provide the few bright spots in an otherwise "depressing"
1536:
558:
1546:
743:
266:), the man responsible for ending her former job as a secretary and leading her into prostitution. Her old boyfriend, sailor Carl Erickson (
855:
612:, Turner Classic Movies, Turner Broadcasting System, a subsidiary of Time Warner, Inc., New York, N.Y. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
1526:
576:
1566:
1541:
1531:
734:(New York, N.Y.), December 22, 1931, pages 15, 19. Internet Archive, San Francisco, California. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
1556:
403:
395:
Unusual in mainstream
Hollywood productions of the time, the characters portrayed by the main African-American actors in
481:
was publicized at the time of its release as being "Not for
Children". In its December 22, 1931 review, the widely read
1561:
772:
Catalog of
Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress
254:"Girl charged with murder flees to South Pacific paradise where she instead encounters other fugitives and derelicts."
1551:
1269:
758:
Cohen, Harold W. "Dorothy
Mackaill at the Warner in 'Safe in Hell' and 'Three Wise Girls' At The Davis and Enright".
848:
1405:
1189:
1571:
1445:
1221:
1037:
1021:
538:
639:
1581:
1576:
1437:
1205:
238:
56:
689:
1213:
997:
827:
1493:
1229:
973:
885:
841:
1389:
1237:
1117:
1005:
506:, but the weekly in its December 28, 1931 edition calls it "crude, trite, sporadically exciting." The
1521:
1301:
1477:
1325:
727:
1453:
1365:
1293:
1061:
661:
508:
459:
120:
1261:
1149:
1133:
1013:
363:
298:
Film still of provocatively dressed Gilda (Dorothy
Mackaill) as the secretary-turned-prostitute
710:
1413:
1341:
1245:
1197:
1165:
804:
1277:
1045:
957:
949:
909:
351:
8:
1516:
1461:
1381:
1317:
1029:
933:
526:
309:
267:
214:
87:
1485:
1421:
1333:
1173:
1109:
1093:
917:
901:
865:
833:
483:
206:
199:
44:
1309:
1285:
981:
965:
925:
793:
584:
345:
327:
294:
226:
820:
605:
1101:
1069:
1053:
877:
467:
381:
375:
303:
259:
210:
83:
673:
1397:
1349:
1085:
989:
498:
622:
1253:
893:
443:
339:
321:
271:
242:
218:
73:
646:
of FilmStruck, originally posted
January 12, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
1510:
1181:
1157:
455:
451:
447:
439:, and it was completed in less than five weeks, "wrapping up" on October 18.
415:
369:
357:
234:
230:
97:
798:
1429:
1141:
1125:
333:
315:
263:
222:
131:
60:
411:
407:
1469:
809:
463:
787:
1373:
1357:
262:) is a prostitute in New Orleans, accused of murdering Piet Van Saal (
202:
446:, and the casting of some male roles in the film initially included
30:
941:
815:
283:
513:
that McKinney's performance is "the best thing in the picture."
442:
The production was originally scheduled to be directed by
863:
762:, February 1, 1932. pg 17. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
680:, Internet Movie Database. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
431:
began in mid-September 1931 under the working titles
664:, Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
749:(December 28, 1931). Retrieved September 13, 2015.
502:was less harsh in its assessment of the film than
1508:
774:, p. 157, c.1978 by The American Film Institute
1537:Films about prostitution in the United States
849:
856:
842:
706:
704:
702:
462:. First National Pictures also considered
29:
744:"Cinema: The New Pictures: Dec. 28, 1931"
640:"How Low Can You Go?—Safe in Hell (1931)"
656:
654:
652:
293:
699:
629:, Allmovie. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
241:and Maude Fulton is based on a play by
1509:
837:
649:
1547:Films directed by William A. Wellman
324:as Mr. Bruno, the jailer and hangman
642:, review with film-related images,
13:
717:, TCM. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
696:, TCM. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
14:
1593:
781:
35:Swedish theatrical release poster
404:When It's Sleepy Time Down South
217:, with featured performances by
765:
752:
737:
720:
516:
1527:American black-and-white films
683:
667:
632:
615:
599:
569:
551:
539:Motion Picture Production Code
1:
1567:First National Pictures films
1542:American films based on plays
544:
422:
1532:1930s English-language films
828:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
690:"Original Print Information"
473:
7:
1390:The Next Voice You Hear...
974:The Legion of the Condemned
532:
146:December 12, 1931
10:
1598:
1557:Films set in the Caribbean
606:"Overview" (Full Synopsis)
1562:Films shot in New Orleans
872:
183:
175:
165:
137:
127:
111:
103:
93:
79:
66:
50:
40:
28:
23:
1552:Films set in New Orleans
1406:Across the Wide Missouri
360:as Newcastle, the porter
54:Adaptation and dialogue:
1446:The High and the Mighty
1222:Robin Hood of El Dorado
760:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
638:Stafford, Jeff (2008).
509:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
470:for the part of Gilda.
289:
248:
121:First National Pictures
1206:The President Vanishes
495:
364:Gustav von Seyffertitz
299:
256:
1572:1930s melodrama films
1342:The Story of G.I. Joe
1270:The Light That Failed
1166:Wild Boys of the Road
662:"Safe in Hell (1931)"
559:"Safe in Hell (1931)"
490:
433:Lady from New Orleans
297:
252:
1582:1930s American films
1577:American drama films
1494:Lafayette Escadrille
1294:The Great Man's Lady
1278:Reaching for the Sun
950:You Never Know Women
910:Not a Drum Was Heard
623:"Overview: Synopsis"
372:as Bobo, a policeman
237:. The screenplay by
1318:The Ox-Bow Incident
1190:Looking for Trouble
934:When Husbands Flirt
621:Wollstein, Hans J.
527:Library of Congress
454:, John Harrington,
198:is a 1931 American
1422:Westward the Women
1414:It's a Big Country
1110:The Purchase Price
1022:Dangerous Paradise
918:The Vagabond Trail
866:William A. Wellman
864:Films directed by
805:TCM Movie Database
354:as Jones, a lawyer
300:
207:William A. Wellman
45:William A. Wellman
1504:
1503:
1478:Good-bye, My Lady
1438:Island in the Sky
1310:Lady of Burlesque
1046:Other Men's Women
982:Ladies of the Mob
958:The Cat's Pajamas
926:The Circus Cowboy
587:on April 12, 2013
581:South Seas Cinema
352:Charles Middleton
346:Nina Mae McKinney
227:Nina Mae McKinney
191:
190:
1589:
1522:1931 drama films
1454:Track of the Cat
1366:The Iron Curtain
1214:Call of the Wild
1102:Love Is a Racket
1070:The Star Witness
1054:The Public Enemy
998:Chinatown Nights
878:Second Hand Love
858:
851:
844:
835:
834:
775:
769:
763:
756:
750:
741:
735:
724:
718:
708:
697:
687:
681:
671:
665:
660:Fristoe, Roger.
658:
647:
636:
630:
619:
613:
603:
597:
596:
594:
592:
583:. Archived from
573:
567:
566:
555:
468:Barbara Stanwyck
402:McKinney sings "
382:George F. Marion
376:Cecil Cunningham
342:as General Gomez
318:as Piet Van Saal
312:as Carl Erickson
306:as Gilda Karlson
304:Dorothy Mackaill
260:Dorothy Mackaill
211:Dorothy Mackaill
153:
151:
84:Dorothy Mackaill
33:
21:
20:
1597:
1596:
1592:
1591:
1590:
1588:
1587:
1586:
1507:
1506:
1505:
1500:
1486:Darby's Rangers
1398:The Happy Years
1350:Gallant Journey
1334:This Man's Navy
1230:Small Town Girl
1150:Heroes for Sale
1134:Central Airport
1086:The Hatchet Man
1038:Maybe It's Love
990:Beggars of Life
902:Cupid's Fireman
886:The Man Who Won
868:
862:
784:
779:
778:
770:
766:
757:
753:
742:
738:
726:"Bige" (1931).
725:
721:
709:
700:
688:
684:
672:
668:
659:
650:
637:
633:
620:
616:
604:
600:
590:
588:
575:
574:
570:
563:catalog.afi.com
557:
556:
552:
547:
535:
525:is held in the
519:
476:
460:Richard Bennett
425:
388:
292:
258:Gilda Karlson (
251:
168:
161:
149:
147:
140:
123:
116:
114:
86:
71:
59:
55:
36:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1595:
1585:
1584:
1579:
1574:
1569:
1564:
1559:
1554:
1549:
1544:
1539:
1534:
1529:
1524:
1519:
1502:
1501:
1499:
1498:
1490:
1482:
1474:
1466:
1458:
1450:
1442:
1434:
1426:
1418:
1410:
1402:
1394:
1386:
1378:
1370:
1362:
1354:
1346:
1338:
1330:
1322:
1314:
1306:
1298:
1290:
1282:
1274:
1266:
1258:
1254:Men with Wings
1250:
1246:Nothing Sacred
1242:
1238:A Star Is Born
1234:
1226:
1218:
1210:
1202:
1194:
1186:
1178:
1170:
1162:
1154:
1146:
1138:
1130:
1122:
1118:The Conquerors
1114:
1106:
1098:
1090:
1082:
1074:
1066:
1058:
1050:
1042:
1034:
1026:
1018:
1010:
1006:The Man I Love
1002:
994:
986:
978:
970:
962:
954:
946:
938:
930:
922:
914:
906:
898:
890:
882:
873:
870:
869:
861:
860:
853:
846:
838:
832:
831:
830:
818:
807:
796:
783:
782:External links
780:
777:
776:
764:
751:
736:
728:"Safe in Hell"
719:
698:
682:
666:
648:
631:
614:
598:
568:
549:
548:
546:
543:
542:
541:
534:
531:
518:
515:
475:
472:
444:Michael Curtiz
424:
421:
420:
419:
406:", written by
400:
386:
385:
379:
373:
367:
361:
355:
349:
343:
340:Victor Varconi
337:
331:
325:
322:Morgan Wallace
319:
313:
307:
291:
288:
272:Morgan Wallace
250:
247:
243:Houston Branch
239:Joseph Jackson
219:Morgan Wallace
189:
188:
185:
181:
180:
177:
173:
172:
169:
166:
163:
162:
160:
159:
143:
141:
138:
135:
134:
129:
128:Distributed by
125:
124:
119:
117:
112:
109:
108:
105:
101:
100:
95:
94:Cinematography
91:
90:
81:
77:
76:
74:Houston Branch
68:
64:
63:
57:Joseph Jackson
52:
48:
47:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1594:
1583:
1580:
1578:
1575:
1573:
1570:
1568:
1565:
1563:
1560:
1558:
1555:
1553:
1550:
1548:
1545:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1530:
1528:
1525:
1523:
1520:
1518:
1515:
1514:
1512:
1496:
1495:
1491:
1488:
1487:
1483:
1480:
1479:
1475:
1472:
1471:
1467:
1464:
1463:
1459:
1456:
1455:
1451:
1448:
1447:
1443:
1440:
1439:
1435:
1432:
1431:
1427:
1424:
1423:
1419:
1416:
1415:
1411:
1408:
1407:
1403:
1400:
1399:
1395:
1392:
1391:
1387:
1384:
1383:
1379:
1376:
1375:
1371:
1368:
1367:
1363:
1360:
1359:
1355:
1352:
1351:
1347:
1344:
1343:
1339:
1336:
1335:
1331:
1328:
1327:
1323:
1320:
1319:
1315:
1312:
1311:
1307:
1304:
1303:
1302:Thunder Birds
1299:
1296:
1295:
1291:
1288:
1287:
1283:
1280:
1279:
1275:
1272:
1271:
1267:
1264:
1263:
1259:
1256:
1255:
1251:
1248:
1247:
1243:
1240:
1239:
1235:
1232:
1231:
1227:
1224:
1223:
1219:
1216:
1215:
1211:
1208:
1207:
1203:
1200:
1199:
1195:
1192:
1191:
1187:
1184:
1183:
1182:College Coach
1179:
1176:
1175:
1171:
1168:
1167:
1163:
1160:
1159:
1158:Midnight Mary
1155:
1152:
1151:
1147:
1144:
1143:
1139:
1136:
1135:
1131:
1128:
1127:
1123:
1120:
1119:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1107:
1104:
1103:
1099:
1096:
1095:
1091:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1080:
1079:
1075:
1072:
1071:
1067:
1064:
1063:
1059:
1056:
1055:
1051:
1048:
1047:
1043:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1024:
1023:
1019:
1016:
1015:
1011:
1008:
1007:
1003:
1000:
999:
995:
992:
991:
987:
984:
983:
979:
976:
975:
971:
968:
967:
963:
960:
959:
955:
952:
951:
947:
944:
943:
939:
936:
935:
931:
928:
927:
923:
920:
919:
915:
912:
911:
907:
904:
903:
899:
896:
895:
891:
888:
887:
883:
880:
879:
875:
874:
871:
867:
859:
854:
852:
847:
845:
840:
839:
836:
829:
826:
824:
823:
819:
817:
813:
812:
808:
806:
802:
801:
797:
795:
791:
790:
786:
785:
773:
768:
761:
755:
748:
745:
740:
733:
729:
723:
716:
712:
707:
705:
703:
695:
691:
686:
679:
675:
674:"Soundtracks"
670:
663:
657:
655:
653:
645:
641:
635:
628:
624:
618:
611:
607:
602:
586:
582:
578:
572:
564:
560:
554:
550:
540:
537:
536:
530:
528:
524:
514:
511:
510:
505:
501:
500:
494:
489:
486:
485:
480:
471:
469:
465:
461:
457:
456:Montague Love
453:
452:Boris Karloff
449:
448:David Manners
445:
440:
438:
434:
430:
418:for the film.
417:
416:Clarence Muse
413:
409:
405:
401:
398:
394:
393:
392:
391:
383:
380:
377:
374:
371:
370:Noble Johnson
368:
365:
362:
359:
358:Clarence Muse
356:
353:
350:
347:
344:
341:
338:
335:
332:
329:
326:
323:
320:
317:
314:
311:
308:
305:
302:
301:
296:
287:
285:
279:
275:
273:
269:
265:
261:
255:
246:
244:
240:
236:
235:Noble Johnson
232:
231:Clarence Muse
228:
224:
220:
216:
212:
209:and starring
208:
204:
201:
197:
196:
186:
182:
179:United States
178:
174:
170:
164:
157:
145:
144:
142:
136:
133:
130:
126:
122:
118:
110:
106:
102:
99:
98:Sidney Hickox
96:
92:
89:
85:
82:
78:
75:
69:
65:
62:
58:
53:
49:
46:
43:
39:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1492:
1484:
1476:
1468:
1462:Ring of Fear
1460:
1452:
1444:
1436:
1430:My Man and I
1428:
1420:
1412:
1404:
1396:
1388:
1382:Battleground
1380:
1372:
1364:
1356:
1348:
1340:
1332:
1326:Buffalo Bill
1324:
1316:
1308:
1300:
1292:
1284:
1276:
1268:
1260:
1252:
1244:
1236:
1228:
1220:
1212:
1204:
1196:
1188:
1180:
1172:
1164:
1156:
1148:
1142:Lilly Turner
1140:
1132:
1126:Frisco Jenny
1124:
1116:
1108:
1100:
1092:
1084:
1078:Safe in Hell
1077:
1076:
1068:
1060:
1052:
1044:
1036:
1030:Young Eagles
1028:
1020:
1012:
1004:
996:
988:
980:
972:
964:
956:
948:
940:
932:
924:
916:
908:
900:
892:
884:
876:
822:Safe in Hell
821:
811:Safe in Hell
810:
800:Safe in Hell
799:
789:Safe in Hell
788:
771:
767:
759:
754:
746:
739:
731:
722:
715:Safe in Hell
714:
694:Safe in Hell
693:
685:
678:Safe in Hell
677:
669:
643:
634:
627:Safe in Hell
626:
617:
610:Safe in Hell
609:
601:
589:. Retrieved
585:the original
580:
571:
562:
553:
529:collection.
523:Safe in Hell
522:
520:
517:Preservation
507:
503:
497:
496:
491:
482:
479:Safe in Hell
478:
477:
441:
436:
432:
429:Safe in Hell
428:
426:
397:Safe in Hell
396:
389:
387:
334:Ivan Simpson
316:Ralf Harolde
280:
276:
264:Ralf Harolde
257:
253:
223:Ralf Harolde
205:directed by
195:Safe in Hell
194:
193:
192:
167:Running time
155:
139:Release date
132:Warner Bros.
61:Maude Fulton
24:Safe in Hell
18:
1470:Blood Alley
1062:Night Nurse
577:"SHOWS S-Z"
488:production:
464:Lilian Bond
427:Filming of
310:Donald Cook
268:Donald Cook
215:Donald Cook
88:Donald Cook
41:Directed by
1517:1931 films
1511:Categories
1374:Yellow Sky
1358:Magic Town
1286:Roxie Hart
1262:Beau Geste
1014:Woman Trap
644:Streamline
545:References
521:A copy of
423:Production
390:Cast notes
171:73 minutes
150:1931-12-12
113:Production
107:Owen Marks
51:Written by
1198:Stingaree
474:Reception
437:Lost Lady
412:Otis René
408:Leon René
366:as Larson
348:as Leonie
336:as Crunch
328:John Wray
203:melodrama
104:Edited by
16:1931 film
942:The Boob
816:AllMovie
591:July 10,
533:See also
378:as Angie
330:as Eagan
200:pre-Code
184:Language
80:Starring
67:Based on
894:Big Dan
825:at the
803:at the
732:Variety
711:"Notes"
504:Variety
484:Variety
384:as Jack
284:gallows
187:English
176:Country
148: (
115:company
1497:(1958)
1489:(1958)
1481:(1956)
1473:(1955)
1465:(1954)
1457:(1954)
1449:(1954)
1441:(1953)
1433:(1952)
1425:(1951)
1417:(1951)
1409:(1951)
1401:(1950)
1393:(1950)
1385:(1949)
1377:(1948)
1369:(1948)
1361:(1947)
1353:(1946)
1345:(1945)
1337:(1945)
1329:(1944)
1321:(1943)
1313:(1943)
1305:(1942)
1297:(1942)
1289:(1942)
1281:(1941)
1273:(1939)
1265:(1939)
1257:(1938)
1249:(1937)
1241:(1937)
1233:(1936)
1225:(1936)
1217:(1935)
1209:(1934)
1201:(1934)
1193:(1934)
1185:(1933)
1177:(1933)
1174:Female
1169:(1933)
1161:(1933)
1153:(1933)
1145:(1933)
1137:(1933)
1129:(1932)
1121:(1932)
1113:(1932)
1105:(1932)
1097:(1932)
1094:So Big
1089:(1932)
1081:(1931)
1073:(1931)
1065:(1931)
1057:(1931)
1049:(1931)
1041:(1930)
1033:(1930)
1025:(1930)
1017:(1929)
1009:(1929)
1001:(1929)
993:(1928)
985:(1928)
977:(1928)
969:(1927)
961:(1926)
953:(1926)
945:(1926)
937:(1925)
929:(1924)
921:(1924)
913:(1924)
905:(1923)
897:(1923)
889:(1923)
881:(1923)
458:, and
233:, and
154: (
70:A play
966:Wings
794:IMDb
747:Time
593:2023
499:Time
466:and
435:and
414:and
290:Cast
249:Plot
213:and
814:at
792:at
72:by
1513::
730:,
713:,
701:^
692:,
676:,
651:^
625:,
608:,
579:.
561:.
450:,
410:,
286:.
245:.
229:,
225:,
221:,
156:US
857:e
850:t
843:v
595:.
565:.
158:)
152:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
