The Snake Pit

"Married and in love... with a man she didn't know or want!"

Nov 13 1948 Approved 1h 48m
Drama, Mystery

Virginia Cunningham 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, she is treated by Dr. Mark Kik, 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.

Plot

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, their marriage, and her developing symptoms. The asylum staff are not demonized, but fear, ignorance, and regimentation keep Virginia in a state of misery as pipe-smoking 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

Frank Partos, Millen Brand, Mary Jane Ward

Directed by

Anatole Litvak

Cast

Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

20th Century Fox

Languages

English

Awards

Won 1 Oscar. 10 wins & 9 nominations total

Trailers
THE SNAKE PIT (1948) trailer. Starring OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND.
Scores
# of Votes
8,743
Average Rating
7.6 out of 10
Metascore
76
Popularity
NA