malicious is the island’s prison warden and executioner, Bruno, played by Morgan Wallace. He steals the letters and money that Carl sends her in hopes of making her more vulnerable to his advances.

At first, she ignores the other guests and stays in her room most of the time. Finally, she goes stir crazy and joins them for drinks in the lobby. Still, she keeps the men at arm’s length and her promise to Carl.

It isn't long before trouble follows her to the island. It turns out that Van Saal did not die in the fire. He came to the island seeking refuge and is surprised to find her there. When everyone thought he was dead, he and his wife concocted a scheme to collect his life insurance. Soon after, he ditched his wife, went on the lam with the money and is now wanted. Bruno gives Gilda a gun to protect herself without telling her it is illegal to possess a firearm on the island, punishable by months in prison under his watch.

William A. Wellman, the director of Safe in Hell, whose camerawork has been praised, extracted an intense performance from Dorothy Mackaill, a mostly-forgotten leading lady from the days of silent films and the pre-code era.

Throughout the movie, Mackaill’s character, Gilda, is an out-spoken, strong-willed woman who gets by the best way she can. Her emotions rule her at times. This causes her to act without thinking and she stirs up some of her own trouble. She’s gutsy to her detriment. She is in constant opposition to the men who want to take advantage of her, from her past clients, to the hotel’s guests to the lawless island authority. You can’t help but like her. She handles the disastrous events that propel the film to the startling and disturbing ending with strength, dignity and resignation.

After the film, William A. Wellman, Jr., who spoke about the film and his father, took questions from the audience. One tearful audience member asked him if it were possible that the movie didn’t really end the way it was shown. She was so caught up in Mackaill’s incredible performance that her suspension of disbelief was still in high gear, fueling her desire for an alternative ending.

I was misty-eyed myself and inspired to find out more about Mackaill. I was intrigued when I found out that she had made more than 70 films. How could an actress, who made that many movies and whose performance could still move an audience to tears more than 80 years later, become so forgotten?

My research continues and I plan to write a brief biography for this website. This research is taking me from Boston to Hawaii. Along the way, I’ve discovered an old publicity photo with strange notations and a date stamped on the back. The date conflicts with what is known about the years of her career. It sounds like a mystery. Check back for more details.