The Snake Pit (1948)

Starring: Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn and Celeste Holm.
Directed by: Anatole Litvak

It's one of those films that come along with incredible performances and an incredible story, you're wondering where it's been all your life. I was hooked from beginning to end and de Havilland's performance was so moving I almost thought she was actually going crazy, that's how great it was.

I've always been a fan of Olivia (one of her best and most famous roles is playing Melanie in Gone with the Wind), she's also the sister to Joan Fontaine (who is amazing too) and thankfully both are still with us.

The plot is about a woman (named Virginia Cunningham) who is sent to a psychiatric hospital (insane/lunatic asylum back in the day) suffering from schizophrenic episodes, she also hears voices and has spouts of memory loss, she has to deal with the other patients around her and a stiff (albeit a bit jealous) nurse. It's up to Dr. "Kik" to help Virginia get to the bottom of her problems. All the while she hears about "the snake pit" (hence the title of the film) and during an incredible scene, you'll understand why and what it is.

One of the most important things when the film came out is that it raised awareness about the conditions of mental institutions, The Snake Pit owing to the fact.

All in all, an excellent film that I gave 5/5 stars for on MUBI!