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The Snake Pit (1948) 7.5
A detailed chronicle of a woman during her stay in a mental institution. Director:Anatole Litvak |
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Title: The Snake Pit (1948)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Olivia de Havilland | ... | ||
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Mark Stevens | ... |
Robert Cunningham
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| Leo Genn | ... |
Dr. Mark Kik
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| Celeste Holm | ... |
Grace
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Glenn Langan | ... |
Dr. Terry
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Helen Craig | ... |
Nurse Davis
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| Leif Erickson | ... |
Gordon
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| Beulah Bondi | ... |
Mrs. Greer
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Lee Patrick | ... |
Asylum Inmate
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| Howard Freeman | ... |
Dr. Curtis
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| Natalie Schafer | ... |
Mrs. Stuart
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Ruth Donnelly | ... |
Ruth
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Katherine Locke | ... |
Margaret
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Frank Conroy | ... |
Dr. Jonathan Gifford
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Minna Gombell | ... |
Miss Hart
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
Virginia Cunningham finds herself in a state insane asylum...and can't remember how she got there. In flashback, her husband Robert relates their courtship, marriage, and her developing symptoms. The asylum staff are not demonized, but fear, ignorance and regimentation keep Virginia in a state of misery, as pipesmoking Dr. Mark Kik struggles through wheels within wheels to find the root of her problem. Then a relapse plunges Virginia back into the harrowing 'Snake Pit'... Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
Taglines:
Married and in Love . . . with a Man She Didn't Know or Want!Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
13 November 1948 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Die Schlangengrube See more »Filming Locations:
Stage 2, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USACompany Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
Dr. Curtis: The trouble is for you each case is 'the one,' and for us it's one of thousands.
Doctor Mark Kik: Yes, Curtis, one of thousands, even millions. But only by trying to make each case 'the one' can we really help the patient.
Dr. Curtis: I happen to have here some of the more recent statistics. Ah yes, here they are. Sometimes even we doctors must face reality.
See more »
(1945) (uncredited)
Music by James V. Monaco
Played by the band at the dance
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Director Anatole Litvak insisted that the cast and crew spend three months visiting mental institutions and attending psychiatric lectures to prepare themselves for the film. Olivia de Havilland willingly threw herself into the research. She attended patient treatments at the institutions, and observed electric shock therapy and hydrotherapy first-hand. When permitted, she sat in on doctor-patient therapy sessions. She also attended social events for patients at the institutions. After seeing the film, a "Daily Variety" columnist questioned whether any mental institution would really allow violent inmates to dance with each other at a social event. De Havilland personally called the columnist to confirm that she had attended several such dances at institutions. See more »Goofs
After the young Virginia smashes the head of the soldier doll (that reminds her of her father)into several pieces, she is later seen carrying the unbroken doll on the night of her father's death. The intact doll again appears in the apartment that she lives in as an adult. See more »Quotes
Dr. Jonathan Gifford: Now now, doctor, we're not trying to minimize the importance of the treatment you're giving your patient.Dr. Curtis: The trouble is for you each case is 'the one,' and for us it's one of thousands.
Doctor Mark Kik: Yes, Curtis, one of thousands, even millions. But only by trying to make each case 'the one' can we really help the patient.
Dr. Curtis: I happen to have here some of the more recent statistics. Ah yes, here they are. Sometimes even we doctors must face reality.
See more »
Soundtracks
"I Can't Begin to Tell You"(1945) (uncredited)
Music by James V. Monaco
Played by the band at the dance
See more »
Over the years I have seen this film many times and many times it reminds me of the old film, "Bedlam", starring Boris Karloff. However, Olivia De Havilland,(Virginia Stuart),"The Heiress",'49, gave such a great performance, I thought she should have won the Academy Award for this picture, instead, she won the award for "The Heiress". Virginia Stuart was a very confused and mixed up woman who had childhood experiences which caused her great mental blocks towards living a normal life as a wife and mother. Olivia De Havilland put her very heart and soul into this film and her acting made you feel very depressed for the horrible treatment she received from the professional staff, as well as, the lunatics where she was placed. Leo Genn, (Doctor Mark Kick),"Moby Dick",'56 gave a great supporting role to Virginia along with her husband, Mark Stevens,(Robert Cunningham),"Street With No Name",'48. This is truly a great film, however, our mental hospitals have improved greatly since 1948!