Safe in Hell 1931

Gilda Karlson, portrayed by Dorothy Mackaill, leads a troubled life as a prostitute in the vibrant streets of New Orleans. Accused of murdering Piet Van Saal, played by Ralf Harolde, who was responsible for turning her from a secretary into a life of vice, she finds herself on the run. Her devoted old flame, sailor Carl Erickson, smuggles her away to Tortuga, a remote island in the Caribbean Sea, where extradition is not an option. There, Gilda and Carl hold a makeshift wedding without a minister, and she pledges her loyalty to him.

However, Gilda’s hopes for a peaceful life are shattered when Carl departs on his ship, leaving her alone in a hotel filled with unsavory international criminals. Among them is the relentless Mr. Bruno, portrayed by Morgan Wallace, who claims to be both “the jailer and executioner of this island.” He goes to great lengths to isolate Gilda by intercepting Carl’s letters and stealing the money he sends for her support. Bruno’s devious plan is to manipulate her into believing that Carl has abandoned her, coercing her into seeking his help when she grows desperate.

The plot thickens when Van Saal unexpectedly shows up on the island. He reveals his deceit, having faked his death to cash in on a $50,000 life insurance policy, which led to his wife exposing him to the authorities. As a feigned act of concern for Gilda’s well-being, Bruno gifts her a pistol for self-defense. When Van Saal attempts to assault her, Gilda bravely retaliates and kills him in self-defense.

With the trial approaching, Gilda appears to have the sympathy of the jury and seems poised for acquittal. However, the cunning Bruno warns her that regardless of the verdict, he will arrest her for possessing the “deadly weapon” he provided, threatening her with at least six months in his notorious prison camp, where he would exploit her for personal gain in exchange for a lavish lifestyle.

Desperate and cornered, Gilda makes a heart-wrenching decision to falsely confess to killing Van Saal “in cold blood” to avoid the fate Bruno has planned for her. As she awaits her impending execution, she is unexpectedly reunited with Carl, who shares his excitement about a new job and dreams of a life together in New Orleans. Gilda, overwhelmed with emotion, chooses not to reveal her dark secrets, instead bidding him farewell with tears, leaving him under the impression that she will soon join him. Tragically, as she walks to the gallows accompanied by law enforcement and the ever-watchful Bruno, it becomes clear that her fate is sealed.