Safe in Hell (1931) review

Ah yes, pre-Code shenanigans: "lady of the night" Gilda (Dorothy Mackaill) thinks she's killed her pimp Piet (Ralf Harolde) in New Orleans and is whisked off to a Caribbean island by her sailor boyfriend Carl (Donald Cook) where she can't be extradited - while there, she quickly becomes tired of hiding (and playing solitaire) ... and comes to discover Piet is very much alive.  Wellman never was the smoothest with his direction but gets a pass because he was one of the early mavericks - the core problem is that it's a little hard to get behind any of these characters: almost all of the men are creepy predators (with dicey backgrounds) and Lil Miss Secretary is a snit who appreciates nothing and gives sassy responses.  As with ever-so-many American productions, it features a courtroom trial ... and our "heroine" is willing to be hung instead of being a kingpin's "side piece," so I suppose there is a tiny bit of "honor" in her character.  Altogether, it's rather grimy: I encourage a scalding hot shower with plenty of soap after screening it.