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The Snake Pit

Play trailer Poster for The Snake Pit Released Nov 13, 1948 1h 48m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In this psychological drama, Virginia Cunningham (Olivia de Havilland) is confused upon finding herself in a mental hospital, with no memory of her arrival at the institution. Tormented by delusions and unable to even recognize her husband, Robert (Mark Stevens), she is treated by Dr. Mark Kik (Leo Genn), who is determined to get to the root of her mental illness. As her treatment progresses, flashbacks depict events in Virginia's life that may have contributed to her instability.
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The Snake Pit

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
THR Staff The Hollywood Reporter It makes no compromise with the shocking facts as presented in the novel. The result is a drama that builds to a fever pitch of tension and holds itself there with superlative artistry. Nov 5, 2018 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out It's entertaining enough in a hysterical sort of way, even if it never matches up to the excesses of Fuller's later Shock Corridor. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Nell Dodson Russell Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder This powerful film packs such a dramatic wallop that I don't recommend it to highly nervous or emotionally excitable people. Jan 15, 2022 Full Review Elsa Branden Photoplay Occasionally, a picture comes along so powerful in its impact that it leaves you gasping. The Snake Pit, taken from the novel of writer Mary Jane Ward, belongs in that category. Rated: 3/3 Aug 20, 2021 Full Review Tom Meek Cambridge Day ...where grim scenes of rec room madness are cemented by the excellent and vast supporting cast. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 7, 2020 Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy [Olivia] de Havilland does as much as she can with what she's given. Rated: 6/10 Dec 5, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Deke P epic mental asylum movie. Starring Olivia DeHavilland, who played Melanie in GWTW. Very long. Saw it on the telly 9.8.23, Note to sef, pay more attention to parts next time, if there is one. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/09/23 Full Review Georgan G This classic was made long before the public knew much about mental illness. And it ended up helping laws change re treatment. de Havilland's acting was superb and gave the lead character true depth. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/20/23 Full Review Steve M What if you woke up and you were in the nut house? and you didn't remember how you got there or where you lived before. Pretty scary. Well done movie shows how the doctor digs into her past to see what caused her problems. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/05/23 Full Review Audience Member I loved the book, liked the movie version. Olivia de Havilland, wow- did such an AMAZING job playing the lead I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her acting, expressions, everything. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review William L "Patient confused and disoriented. Lacks insight and judgement." Dang, they could have locked ME away in an asylum back in 1948. The Snake Pit is brought to life by an excellent performance from de Havilland and a tremendously entertaining and diverse supporting cast among Virginia's fellow patients, and the film was groundbreaking in its treatment of mental illness, but the actual plot is surprisingly dull. Instead of diving into the intense discomfort of an unreliable narrator in unknown circumstances as a sort of blend between Shutter Island and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Snake Pit feels more pedantic, treating some rather conventional childhood misfortune as if it were some devastating revelation. Still, the film deserves credit both for its spot-on casting and its depiction of mental instability as less of an irredeemable fault or a softly whispered diagnosis among polite company, instead portraying its subjects as lifelike, empathetic characters worthy of respect and putting forth major criticisms of the structure by which 'treatment' was applied to those suffering during the period. Also, Betsy Blair looks exactly like a female Eddie Redmayne. (3.5/5) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/21/21 Full Review william d A raw, no-holds-barred depiction of life in an insane asylum, with an outstanding performance by Olivia de Havilland. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Snake Pit

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this psychological drama, Virginia Cunningham (Olivia de Havilland) is confused upon finding herself in a mental hospital, with no memory of her arrival at the institution. Tormented by delusions and unable to even recognize her husband, Robert (Mark Stevens), she is treated by Dr. Mark Kik (Leo Genn), who is determined to get to the root of her mental illness. As her treatment progresses, flashbacks depict events in Virginia's life that may have contributed to her instability.
Director
Anatole Litvak
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 13, 1948, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 48m
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