The Snake Pit (1948) | |
| Director(s) | Anatole Litvak |
| Producer(s) | Robert Bassler, Anatole Litvak, Darryl F. Zanuck (executive uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Drama, Film Adaptation |
| Top Topics | Amnesia, Book-Based |
Featured Cast:
The Snake Pit Overview:
The Snake Pit (1948) was a Drama - Black-and-white Film directed by Anatole Litvak and produced by Robert Bassler, Darryl F. Zanuck and Anatole Litvak.
Academy Awards 1948 --- Ceremony Number 21 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actress | Olivia de Havilland | Nominated |
| Best Director | Anatole Litvak | Nominated |
| Best Music - Scoring | Alfred Newman | Nominated |
| Best Picture | 20th Century-Fox | Nominated |
| Best Writing | Frank Partos, Millen Brand | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
Olivia de Havilland enters “The Snake Pit”
By Stephen Reginald on Apr 11, 2025 From Classic Movie ManOlivia de Havilland enters “The Snake Pit” The Snake Pit (1948) stars two-time Best Actress winner Olivia de Havilland.De Havilland is Virginia Cunningham, an aspiring writer and newlywed. Early in their marriage, she begins to wonder about her husband’s love for her. She beco... Read full article
Exploring Olivia de Havilland’s Performance in ‘The Snake Pit’ (1948)
By Virginie Pronovost on Jul 1, 2018 From The Wonderful World of CinemaToday, the legendary Olivia de Havilland is turning 102 years old! What a victory! For a third consecutive year, Crystal from In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood and Laura from Phyllis Loves Classic Movies are hosting the Annual Olivia de Havilland Blogathon. I’m happy to take part in th... Read full article
Screening of “The Snake Pit” at Daystar Center September 12
By Stephen Reginald on Sep 1, 2017 From Classic Movie ManScreening of “The Snake Pit” at Daystar Center September 12 “Classic Movie Man Favorites” Series: The Snake Pit (1948) Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street When: September 12, 2017 Time: 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald The Snake Pit (1948) stars two-time Bes... Read full article
The Snake Pit (1948) (2)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 24, 2017 From 4 Star FilmsThere is a lineage of psychological dramas most notably including the likes of Shock Corridor and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. But one of their primary predecessors was The Snake Pit which is a haunting, inscrutable and thought-provoking film in its own right. But rather than trying to sum it up ... Read full article
The Snake Pit (1948) (3)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 24, 2017 From 4 Star FilmsThere is a lineage of psychological dramas most notably including the likes of Shock Corridor and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. But one of their primary predecessors was The Snake Pit which is a haunting, inscrutable and thought-provoking film in its own right. But rather than trying to sum it up ... Read full article
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Quotes from
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: Why not?
Miss Greene: Because we don't! Understand? We're the only ward that has a rug. It's new, I mean it's clean, and we mean to keep it that way.
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: Why don't you hang it on the wall?
Miss Greene: Your wisecracks might have been appreciated in other wards, but in 12 they don't go over.
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: Is this 12?
Miss Greene: And what did you think it was? One?
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: How long have I been here?
Miss Greene: Too long.
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: It was strange, here I was among all those people, and at the same time I felt as if I were looking at them from some place far away, the whole place seemed to me like a deep hole and the people down in it like strange animals, like... like snakes, and I've been thrown into it... yes... as though... as though I were in a snake pit...
Doctor Mark Kik: A snake pit?
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: Later, weeks later, I understood. I remembered once reading in a book that long ago they used to put insane people into pits full of snakes. I think they figured that something which might drive a normal person insane, might shock an insane person back into sanity. Did you ever hear of that?
Doctor Mark Kik: Yes.
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: Well, it was just as though they'd thrown me into a snake pit. And I was shocked into thinking that maybe I wasn't as sick as the others... and I really might get well.
Celia Sommerville: And we're so crowded already. I just don't know where it's all gonna end!
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: I'll tell you where it's gonna end, Miss Somerville... When there are more sick ones than well ones, the sick ones will lock the well ones up.
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Facts about
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.
Gene Tierney was the first choice to star but dropped out due to her pregnancy.
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