Safe in Hell (1931)
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- Passed
- 1h 13min
- Crime, Drama
- 12 Dec 1931 (USA)
- Movie
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:
Writers:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Dorothy Mackaill | ... |
Gilda Carlson - aka Gilda Erickson
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| Donald Cook | ... |
Carl Bergen - aka Carl Erickson
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| Ralf Harolde | ... |
Piet Van Saal
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| John Wray | ... |
Egan
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| Ivan F. Simpson | ... |
Crunch
(as Ivan Simpson)
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| Victor Varconi | ... |
General Emmanuel Jesus Maria Gomez
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| Morgan Wallace | ... |
Mr. Bruno - the Hangman
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| Nina Mae McKinney | ... |
Leonie - the Hotel Manager
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| Charles Middleton | ... |
Lawyer Jones
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| Clarence Muse | ... |
Newcastle - the Porter
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| Gustav von Seyffertitz | ... |
Larson
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| Noble Johnson | ... |
Bobo - a Caribbean Policeman
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| Cecil Cunningham | ... |
Angie
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Sam Appel | ... |
Court Policeman (uncredited)
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| Lionel Belmore | ... |
Judge (uncredited)
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Ted Billings | ... |
Jury Member (uncredited)
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| Rondo Hatton | ... |
Jury Member (uncredited)
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| Kenneth MacDonald | ... |
Wireless Operator (uncredited)
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| Chris-Pin Martin | ... |
Jury Member (uncredited)
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Dick Rush | ... |
New Orleans Detective (uncredited)
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| Harry Semels | ... |
Jury Member (uncredited)
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| Harold Waldridge | ... |
New Orleans Hotel Bellhop (uncredited)
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Directed by
| William A. Wellman | ||
Written by
| Houston Branch | ... | (play) |
| Joseph Jackson | ... | (adaptation & dialogue) & |
| Maude Fulton | ... | (adaptation & dialogue) |
Cinematography by
| Sidney Hickox | ... | (photography) (as Sid Hickox) |
Editing by
| Owen Marks | ... | (edited by) |
Art Direction by
| Jack Okey | ||
Costume Design by
| Earl Luick | ... | (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Leo F. Forbstein | ... | conductor: Vitaphone Orchestra (as Leo Forbstein) |
Production Companies
- First National Pictures (controlled by Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.)
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1931) (United States) (theatrical)
- Vitagraph Limited (1932) (Canada) (theatrical)
- First National Film Distributors (1932) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (re-titled)
- Warner Brothers First National Films (1932) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros First National (1933) (France) (theatrical)
- Associated Artists Productions (AAP) (1956) (United States) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (2011) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
- Warner Home Video (2013) (France) (DVD)
- The Criterion Channel (2023) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
- Warner Archive Collection (2023) (United States) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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. Written by indexcard |
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| 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) See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| 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). See more » |
| 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Complicated Women (2003). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Pagan Moon See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The title card shows burning flames covering the letters of the title. See more » |
| 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." See more » |