Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Safe in Hell Blu-ray Movie Review

Cocks in the henhouse.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 5, 2023

An effective pre-Code melodrama infamously saddled with a strict "Not for Children" warning label, William Wellman's Safe in Hell has held up surprisingly well during the last 90-plus years, thanks to its interesting plot and a committed performance from overlooked star Dorothy Mackaill in a role reportedly meant for Barbara Stanwyck. Although it spins its wheels a bit after settling into the primary setting around the 20-minute mark, this short but well-paced production keeps things interesting with a great supporting cast and clever twists along the way... not to mention artistic visual touches and fine cinematography, both of which are served well on Warner Archive's new Blu-ray.

Safe in Hell starts off not-so-innocently enough with the introduction of Gilda Karlson (Mackaill), a prostitute from New Orleans who's unknowingly invited to the apartment of former client Piet Van Saal (Ralf Harolde). Their last interaction didn't end well and this one isn't going so great either: she rebuffs his advances and even starts throws a bottle at him in anger, apparently landing a fatal blow and causing a fire that later consumes most of the building. Fleeing the scene before being noticed by a bellhop, Gilda lays low while her madam covers for her, but she's surprised at the door by... returning lover Carl Erickson (Donald Cook), a sailor who's got an armful of gifts. After hearing her side of the story, Carl agrees to stow Gilda away on a ship bound for the isle of Tortuga, whose lack of extradition laws means that she won't be nabbed for the unintentional murder. Naturally, Carl can't stay for long, which leaves poor Gilda stuck in the island's only hotel with an unsavory group of criminals hiding out for the very same legal reasons.

The above description -- and let's face it, the film's title -- suggests that Safe in Hell is a pitch-black noir stuffed to the gills with danger, but it's really more of a tragic melodrama laced with a little suspense. Most of the characters here are nothing if not memorable, from the group of lecherous criminals (unofficially led by Mr. Bruno [Morgan Wallace], who enthusiastically serves as the island's jailor and executioner) to the hotel's small staff, which includes charming porter Newcastle (Clarence Muse) and lovely Leonie (Nina Mae McKinney, already an acting veteran who gets a nice vocal performance partway through). The criminals range from harmless -- by 1930s male-dominant standards, of course -- to truly deceitful, but Gilda holds her own and remains a strong, sympathetic character throughout. As it speeds along to a bittersweet ending soon after the 70-minute mark, Safe in Hell manages to subvert viewer expectations with a handful of well-placed soapy turns that actually serve the story without feeling like padded detours.

Perhaps the film's only real weak point is the small stretch of time soon after Carl reluctantly departs Tortuga, where the first introduction of our criminal group plays not unlike a short marathon of failed alpha-male introductions that all end with some form of physical rebuttal, from a quick slap to a cold splash of water. But once Safe in Hell regains its footing, it continues just as it started: a largely compelling and well-acted character piece that's aged better than most films from this early era of cinema. Warner Archive gives this forgotten classic the support it deserves with another top-tier Blu-ray package headlined by an outstanding A/V restoration and a few "new" period-specific extras.

Safe in Hell Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sourced from a recent 4K scan of the only-known surviving 35mm nitrate print -- which was reportedly held by the Library of Congress, at least as of a few years ago -- this new restored 1080p transfer by Warner Archive is a quantum leap above their earlier DVD which, like earlier home video editions, stemmed from very rough-looking 16mm sources. There's little to say about the quality of this transfer aside for that it's as good as expected and possibly better, with a wonderfully consistent appearance and the crisp level of fine detail and film grain you'd expect from careful handling of its source elements. Obviously quite a bit of unavoidable wear and tear remains -- very small levels of dirt and debris, occasional flicker, and of course a few missing frames -- but it's so infrequent that you'll be wowed much more than distracted. As usual, it's strongly encoded with no perceivable artifacts, macro blocking, or posterization. I doubt we'll even see a better home video presentation of this film, and in all honesty this Blu-ray probably exceeds the quality level of original theatrical showings. It's certainly up for the "most improved" award, that's for sure.

Safe in Hell Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise taken from the 35mm print, Warner Archive's DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track represents an extremely faithful and high-quality presentation of those original elements. While unavoidably less impressive than its visual counterpart, this is another purist-friendly treatment of its one-channel source that features relatively crisp dialogue, good mixing of background elements, and enough room for the original score. Trace levels of hiss and a bit of crackling remain here and there, but absolutely nothing out of bounds considering the print's age and fragility. It's an underrated but crucial "other half" of Warner Archive's outstanding new restoration that demands just as much respect.

English (SDH) subtitles are offered during the film only, though I noticed a few mistakes and even word substitutions along the way. (For example, Leonie's performance of "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" repeatedly references "darkies" but is changed to "people", but the occasional differences here definitely aren't all PC-related.)

Safe in Hell Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with poster-themed cover art and no inserts. The bonus features are mostly new (and two are freshly remastered), as Warner Archive's previous DVD only offered the theatrical trailer.

• Theatrical Trailer (1:11) - This text-heavy vintage promotional piece can also be seen here.

• Pat O'Brien in "Crime Square" (8:49) - This nicely-restored 1931 Vitaphone short, directed by Arthur Hurley and written by Burnet Hershey, stars the prolific actor best known for his roles in Angels With Dirty Faces (with pal James Cagney, and also available from Warner Archive) and, of course, Some Like it Hot.

• George Jessel and His Russian Art Choir (8:03) - Although it's presented in rough-looking upscaled SD, this other 1931 Vitaphone short showcases the musical talents of entertainer George Jesse and his choir.

• Dumb Patrol (7:18) - Not to be confused with a later Looney Tunes Bugs Bunny short, this remastered earlier cartoon (co-directed by Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising) features Bosko and Honey in a WWI setting.

Safe in Hell Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

William Wellman's Safe in Hell is an effective pre-Code drama headlined by an outstanding lead performance from the underrated Dorothy Mackaill. Though not without a few narrative missteps, the film's excellent visual direction and a handful of clever twists have helped it to age better than most others from this era. Warner Archive's Blu-ray likewise grants the film another life with a top-tier A/V restoration that outpaces their older DVD by an extremely wide margin. Add a in a few "new" period-specific extras and you've got a well-rounded disc worth owning. Recommended.