The Snake Pit
“Married and in love... with a man she didn't know or want!”
Synopsis
Virginia Cunningham is confused upon finding herself in a mental hospital, with no memory of her arrival at the institution. Tormented by delusions and unable to even recognize her husband, Robert, she is treated by Dr. Mark Kik, who is determined to get to the root of her mental illness. As her treatment progresses, flashbacks depict events in Virginia's life that may have contributed to her instability.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
THE SNAKE PIT (1948) trailer. Starring OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND.
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-09-24
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Olivia de Havilland
Virginia Cunningham
Mark Stevens
Robert Cunningham
Leo Genn
Mark Kik
Celeste Holm
Grace
Glenn Langan
Dr. Terry
Helen Craig
Nurse Davis
Leif Erickson
Gordon
Beulah Bondi
Mrs. Greer
Lee Patrick
Asylum Inmate
Howard Freeman
Dr. Curtis
Natalie Schafer
Mrs. Stuart
Ruth Donnelly
Ruth
Katherine Locke
Margaret
Frank Conroy
Jonathan Gifford
Minna Gombell
Miss Hart
June Storey
Miss Bixby (uncredited)
Lora Lee Michel
Six-Year-Old Virginia (uncredited)
Damian O'Flynn
Mr. Stuart (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 4, 1948
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 1, 2000
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Anatole Litvak
- Screenplay & Story
- Millen Brand, Frank Partos
- Original Score
- Alfred Newman
- Original Title
- The Snake Pit
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 48m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Anatole Litvak
Millen Brand, Frank Partos, Mary Jane Ward
Alfred Newman
Leo Tover
Dorothy Spencer
Robert Bassler, Darryl F. Zanuck, Anatole Litvak
Department Leadership Roster
Leo Tover
Director of Photography
Dorothy Spencer
Editor
Millen Brand
Screenplay
Robert Bassler
Producer
Frank Partos
Screenplay
Anatole Litvak
Director
Anatole Litvak
Producer
Alfred Newman
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Snake Pit.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Snake Pit.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-19 07:37:48 UTC+8)*
Psychological-Thriller
Movies - Live Action
Periodic import List
My Film List
Academy Awards - Best Sound-Sound Mixing Winners 1929-2025
Academy Awards winners archive (Best Sound-Sound Mixing Winners 1929-2025)
Similar Titles to The Snake Pit
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
5.8
7.5
6.7
5.8
7.7
8.0
7.8
7.9
6.0
7.6
7.2
8.0
6.5
6.8
7.5
7.6
More Like The Snake Pit
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Snake Pit
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Snake Pit about?
Virginia Cunningham is confused upon finding herself in a mental hospital, with no memory of her arrival at the institution. Tormented by delusions and unable to even recognize her husband, Robert, she is treated by Dr. Mark Kik, who is determined to get to the root of her mental illness. As her treatment progresses, flashbacks depict events in Virginia's life that may have contributed to her instability.
Who directed The Snake Pit?
The Snake Pit was directed by Anatole Litvak.
Who stars in The Snake Pit?
The principal cast of The Snake Pit includes Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn, Celeste Holm, Glenn Langan.
When was The Snake Pit released and how long is it?
The Snake Pit was released in 1948 with a total runtime of 1h 48m.
Who composed the musical score for The Snake Pit?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Snake Pit was composed by Alfred Newman.
Is The Snake Pit based on a book or true story?
The Snake Pit is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Mary Jane Ward".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Snake Pit?
The Snake Pit holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.).