MoPoshy Absolutely brilliant

Freaktana A Major Disappointment

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

ellenirishellen-62962 That our heroine has to continue to fend off sleazebags who bring to mind the Metoo movement and Harvey Weinstein (that's who I immediately thought of while fighting nausea watching the gross warden/jailer of the island),not to mention some of the less contemptible denizens of the story.My favorite acting was by Jones,the lawyer played admirably by Charles Middleton.Dorothy Mackaill was excellent as the wronged woman,forced to flee NOLA due to believing she's killed the man who forced her into prostitution,Piet played by Ralf Harolde,the squirmy doctor from Night Nurse in 1930.Surprised at "Gramps" character turning out to be a killer,he seemed so mild-mannered in comparison to Vic Varconi's General Gomez,John Wray's Egan,and the nastiest character,the jailer-if I'd face hanging vs jail to provide him with benefits,I'd choose suicide,never give him the satisfaction of pawing me as he lowers the noose.

JohnHowardReid Directed with flair, confidence and great deal of style by William A. Wellman, and solidly acted by a fine line-up of persuasive players including Dorothy Mackaill as the tainted heroine, Nina Mae McKinney as the manager of the sleazy hotel, Clarence Muse as Newcastle the hotel porter, Charles Middleton as the refugee defence counsel, Donald Cook as the at-first-reluctant hero, and Ralf Harolde as the villain of villains, this is an expansively produced melodrama that is put across so realistically and with such flair that it really engaged my intense attention from fiery first to surprising last. Fine camera-work by Sid Hickox and appropriately seedy art direction by Jack Okey helped too. This amazingly downbeat noir movie, adapted from the stage shocker by Houston Branch, is now available on an excellent Warner Archive DVD.

st-shot William Wellman makes the most of pre code freedom in the dark and cynical Safe in Hell. With an on the run hooker in the lead hiding out on a rogues island with a disreputable bunch of sex starved thieves and wheeler dealers Wellman serves up ample helpings of society's underbelly with some effective and subversive pokes at society in general.New Orleans "escort" Gilda has to blow town fast after possibly committing murder and burning down an apartment building. Her seaman lover spirits her away to an island until things cool off where she shares a fleabag hotel with some male dregs of humanity. Her lover plans to return and marry her but the local law and the hangman who also has designs on her confiscates his letters giving her the feeling she's been deserted. Keeping the boys at arms length most of the picture she is forced to shoot and kill one of the miscreants. Found innocent of murder she must nevertheless do some time on the weapons charge thus delivering her into the grimy paws of the hangman.Nearly all the white male characters in Safe in Hell are low lifes of the first order. Criminals without conscience, lusting voyeurs they all want a piece of the action and when Gilda feels she's gotten the brush off she lowers her guard. With a telling sense of irony Wellman provocatively juxtaposes their loutishness with the films only refined respectful well spoken character, a black porter (Clarence Muse) as well as infer miscegenation with the inn keeper (Nina Mae McKinney) who dazzles the boys with a touch of Bessie Smith.Dorothy Mackaill plays Gilda with a glamor less tragic resignation as well as most of the hard boiled molls permeating early sound poverty row films. Morgan Wallace's lascivious Mr. Bruno the hangman is convincing enough to makes Gilda's rash action that determines her fate certainly understandable as Wellman's uncompromising take leaves her little alternative.

Michael_Elliott Safe in Hell (1931) *** (out of 4) Warner Pre-Code from director William A. Wellman about a prostitute (Dorothy Mackaill) who kills a former lover and then takes off with her current lover (Donald Cook). The sailor/lover takes her to an island where she can live without fear of being arrested since the local sheriff gives shelter to criminals. This sounds good but it isn't because she's the only white woman on an island full of criminals and all of them have ideas for her. What really stands out about this film is all the sexuality that Wellman throws out the screen and this film is certainly one of the dirtier films of the era. As expected, there's a scene with Mackaill undressing for the camera and a see through night gown. We also get a scene where the men spread their legs out as they watch the woman with a high sexual tone. Not to mention another scene where the men look up her dress as she walks up some steps. Mackaill is very, very good in her role as she blends sex and a toughness, which makes these films so memorable. The supporting cast is also very good but the story is pretty standard and lacking. There's not too much drama as the screenplay seems a tad bit lazy but this is still worth watching due to all the sexuality.