The Snake Pit

film by Litvak [1948]

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July 15, 2026

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"The Snake Pit" is a 1948 film directed by Anatole Litvak. The term "snake pit" can refer to a hospital for the mentally ill or a place of chaotic disorder. The film itself is a harrowing depiction of treatment within a mental institution. It received critical acclaim, earning Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director for Litvak, and Best Actress for Olivia de Havilland.12

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Anatole Litvak
The Hollywood years
The Snake Pit (1948) was a harrowing account of treatment in a mental institution. Olivia de Havilland, who prepared for her role by joining Litvak in observing a mental facility’s day-to-day operations, was nominated for an Academy Award. The film’s other nominations included best picture,…
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The Snake Pit (1948) was a harrowing account of treatment in a mental institution. Olivia de Havilland, who prepared for her role by joining Litvak in observing a mental facility’s day-to-day operations, was nominated for an Academy Award. The film’s other nominations included best picture,…
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Olivia de Havilland
…gave a superb performance in The Snake Pit (1948). De Havilland moved to France in 1955 and worked infrequently in films after that, most memorably in Light in the Piazza (1962), Lady in a Cage (1964), and Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964). She also appeared in a number of television plays.
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…gave a superb performance in The Snake Pit (1948). De Havilland moved to France in 1955 and worked infrequently in films after that, most memorably in Light in the Piazza (1962), Lady in a Cage (1964), and Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964). She also appeared in a number of television plays.
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