The Snake Pit (1948)

 Anatole Litvak's "The Snake Pit"


Based on the semi-autobiographical 1946 novel of the same name by Mary Jane Ward, Anatole Litvak's 1948 film "The Snake Pit" stars Olivia de Havilland as a woman stuck in an insane asylum. The reason for her mental illness is unknown to both her and the audience. As the film progresses, the truths about her backstory and illness are revealed piece by piece until she (along with us) have a complete picture of her life and her mental circumstances.

As an entertainment flick, it is very interesting. There isn't much depth to the picture, but it does grab your attention, along with instilling a sense of empathy for those affected by mental illness in general. However, the main victory in the film for me is the incredible performance by Olivia de Havilland. I still haven't seen her 1949 William Wyler film "The Heiress" yet, but I have to say that "The Snake Pit" is by far the greatest performance I've seen out of her thus far. Otherwise, it is a mildly entertaining affair. 



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