{"id":4641,"date":"2007-10-27T09:24:10","date_gmt":"2007-10-27T16:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4641"},"modified":"2022-02-21T16:36:46","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T23:36:46","slug":"snake-pit-the-1948","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4641","title":{"rendered":"Snake Pit, The (1948)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;The whole place seemed to me like a deep hole, and the people down in it were strange animals &#8212; snakes! And I&#8217;d been thrown into it, as though I were a snake, too.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Poster-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23022\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Poster-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Poster.jpg 501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nUpon experiencing a sudden nervous breakdown, troubled newlywed Virginia Cunningham (Olivia de Havilland) is sent by her concerned husband (Mark Stevens) to a state mental institution, where kindly Dr. Kik (Leo Genn) tries to help her uncover the reasons for her distress.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Betsy Blair Films<\/li>\n<li>Beulah Bondi Films<\/li>\n<li>Celeste Holm Films<\/li>\n<li>Leo Genn Films<\/li>\n<li>Mental Breakdown<\/li>\n<li>Mental Illness<\/li>\n<li>Olivia de Havilland Films<\/li>\n<li>Psychotherapy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nOlivia de Havilland &#8212; &#8220;whose strong performance,&#8221; Peary notes, &#8220;still holds up&#8221; &#8212; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland2-1024x647.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"404\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57097\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland2-1024x647.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland2-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland2-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland2-768x485.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland2-1536x970.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland2-428x270.png 428w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland2.png 1617w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>is the primary reason to watch this sincere yet dated adaptation of Mary Jane Ward&#8217;s bestselling, semi-autobiographical novel. In the wake of <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44163\"><em>One Flew Over the Cuckoo&#8217;s Nest<\/em> (1975)<\/a>, nothing in <em>The Snake Pit<\/em> comes across as particularly shocking, but audiences at the time must have been horrified by its depiction of inhumane overcrowding (the didactic script makes sure we&#8217;re aware of the impossibly mounting number of inmates):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Crowding.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Crowding-1024x624.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"390\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57094\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Crowding-1024x624.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Crowding-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Crowding-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Crowding-768x468.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Crowding-1536x936.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Crowding-443x270.png 443w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Crowding.png 1665w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; seemingly abusive treatment methods (including shock therapy):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Horror.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Horror-1024x634.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"396\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Horror-1024x634.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Horror-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Horror-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Horror-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Horror-1536x952.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Horror-436x270.png 436w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Horror.png 1635w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and power-playing nurses (Helen Craig&#8217;s evil Nurse Davis is an eerie precursor to Nurse Ratched). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Craig.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Craig-1024x631.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"394\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57091\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Craig-1024x631.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Craig-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Craig-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Craig-768x473.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Craig-1536x946.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Craig-438x270.png 438w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Craig.png 1657w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Leo Genn&#8217;s saintly &#8220;Dr. Kik&#8221; conveniently mitigates much of this impersonal horror, emerging as Virginia&#8217;s literal savior:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Dr-Kik.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Dr-Kik-1024x630.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"394\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57089\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Dr-Kik-1024x630.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Dr-Kik-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Dr-Kik-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Dr-Kik-768x473.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Dr-Kik-1536x945.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Dr-Kik-439x270.png 439w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Dr-Kik.png 1659w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While his Freudian analysis of Virginia&#8217;s childhood is ridiculously simplistic:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Girl.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Girl-1024x627.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"392\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57095\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Girl-1024x627.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Girl-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Girl-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Girl-768x470.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Girl-1536x941.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Girl-441x270.png 441w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Girl.png 1651w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; it&#8217;s hard not to feel for de Havilland&#8217;s highly sympathetic protagonist, and wish her well.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Olivia de Havilland as Virginia Cunningham<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland-1024x626.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"391\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57092\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland-1024x626.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland-768x470.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland-1536x939.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland-442x270.png 442w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-De-Havilland.png 1657w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The creepy &#8220;snake pit&#8221; shot<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Snake-Pit.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Snake-Pit-1024x635.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"397\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57088\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Snake-Pit-1024x635.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Snake-Pit-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Snake-Pit-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Snake-Pit-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Snake-Pit-1536x953.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Snake-Pit-435x270.png 435w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Snake-Pit.png 1633w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine supporting performances by Betsy Blair and others as female inmates<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Blair.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Blair-1024x633.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"396\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57090\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Blair-1024x633.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Blair-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Blair-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Blair-768x474.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Blair-1536x949.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Blair-437x270.png 437w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Blair.png 1627w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Cinematography2-1024x641.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"401\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57099\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Cinematography2-1024x641.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Cinematography2-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Cinematography2-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Cinematography2-768x481.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Cinematography2-1536x962.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Cinematography2-431x270.png 431w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/10\/Snake-Pit-Cinematography2.png 1633w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, simply for its historical importance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0040806\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1948\/11\/05\/archives\/snake-pit-study-of-mental-ills-based-on-mary-jane-wards-novel-opens.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1259pit.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/the-snake-pit\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;The whole place seemed to me like a deep hole, and the people down in it were strange animals &#8212; snakes! And I&#8217;d been thrown into it, as though I were a snake, too. Synopsis: Upon experiencing a sudden nervous breakdown, troubled newlywed Virginia Cunningham (Olivia de Havilland) is sent by her concerned husband (Mark Stevens) to a state mental institution, where kindly Dr. Kik (Leo Genn) tries to help her uncover the reasons for her distress. Genres, Themes, Actors,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4641\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4641"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81533,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4641\/revisions\/81533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}