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)
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)
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: 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.
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
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".
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.
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