| Distributor:20th Century Fox Synopsis: "A woman loses her mind and is confined to a mental institution." That's the usual TV-listing encapsulation of The Snake Pit -- and like most such encapsulations, it only scratches the film's surface. Olivia de Havilland stars as an outwardly normal young woman, married to loyal, kindly Mark Stevens. As de Havilland's behavior becomes more and more erratic, however, Stevens comes to the sad conclusion that she needs professional help. She is sent to an overcrowded state hospital for treatment -- ... Full Synopsis
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| At a time when Hollywood's understanding of mental illness hovered at the level of Arsenic and Old Lace, The Snake Pit bravely suggested that healthy, respectable people could suffer severe depression and nervous breakdowns, and that emotional maladies were treatable, and even curable. The film's representation of Virginia Cunningham and her troubles may seem elementary by today's standards, and the ... Read Review | |
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| Virginia Stuart Cunningham | |
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