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)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActressOlivia de HavillandNominated
Best DirectorAnatole LitvakNominated
Best Music - ScoringAlfred NewmanNominated
Best Picture20th Century-FoxNominated
Best WritingFrank Partos, Millen BrandNominated
.

BlogHub Articles:

Exploring Olivia de Havilland’s Performance in ‘The Snake Pit’ (1948)

By Virginie Pronovost on Jul 1, 2018 From The Wonderful World of Cinema

Today, 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 Man

Screening 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)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 24, 2017 From 4 Star Films

There 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)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 24, 2017 From 4 Star Films

There 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


1001 Classic Movies: The Snake Pit

By Amanda Garrett on Jul 19, 2016 From Old Hollywood Films

The Snake Pit (1948), starring Olivia de Havilland, is one of the 1001 classic movies you should see. Each Monday, I'm going to recommend a classic movie you should see (for the reasons behind the 1001 series and reviews of earlier films covered go here). Old Hollywood legend Olivia de Havilland ... Read full article


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Quotes from

Mrs. Greer: Good afternoon, my dear. I don't think I've had the pleasure of seeing you here before.
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: I'm Virginia Cunningham. I came from Five.
Mrs. Greer: Nobody comes to One from Five. Even I had to spend a few days in Two before coming here. And I, my dear, have money.
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: That must be convenient.
Mrs. Greer: My husband, Mr. Greer, is very wealthy. I have more jewels than I can possibly wear. You, of course, are a charity patient?
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: Oh, no. It so happens that my husband, Mr. Cunningham, is very wealthy. My diamonds simply weigh me down.
Mrs. Greer: I have the Hope Diamond!
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: I have the Hopeless Emerald! It carries the Cunningham curse. You've probably read about it.
Mrs. Greer: Mr. Greer...
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: Your husband?
Mrs. Greer: Mr. Greer, my husband, considered buying it, but it has a flaw. You see, you can't put an imperfect stone on the most beautiful hands in the world.


Robert Cunningham: Tell me what have you been doing all these months?
Virginia Stuart Cunningham: Working 18 hours a day and being lonely 24.


Miss Greene: You get off the rug, Virginia Cunningham! Come on! Come on! Get off of there! I've told you a dozen times we do not walk on our rug.
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.


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Facts about

Ginger Rogers wrote that she turned down the lead in this film, as well as To Each His Own, both of which Olivia de Havilland accepted. Olivia won an Oscar for To Each His Own and was nominated for this film. Rogers wrote: "It seemed Olivia knew a good thing when she saw it. Perhaps Olivia should thank me for such poor judgment".
The title stems from an ancient practice of dealing with the mentally ill where they were thrown into a pit of snakes. The theory was that something like that would make a normal person insane, therefore it must work in reverse.
The British censor insisted on a foreword explaining that everyone in the film was an actor and that conditions in British mental hospitals were unlike those depicted.
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Best Picture Oscar 1948






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Also directed by Anatole Litvak




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Also produced by Robert Bassler




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