“A drama that builds to a fever pitch of tension and holds itself there with superlative artistry.” – The Hollywood Reporter

Anatole Litvak’s classic adaptation of Mary Jane Ward’s book, THE SNAKE PIT is a harrowing portrait of a young woman (Olivia de Havilland, in a stunning, Oscar-nominated performance) whose life is torn apart when she suffers a mental breakdown and is admitted to an institution. A plea for understanding, a critique of contemporary conditions and treatments, and a superb melodrama, this is a film that both horrifies and touches. With its vivid depictions of electro-shock therapy and chaotic conditions inside a psychiatric hosptial, THE SNAKE PIT spurred legal reforms in psychiatric care throughout the country, helping to change the laws in 26 states, according to 20th Century Fox. A critical and popular hit upon its release in 1948, THE SNAKE PIT was nominated for six Academy Awards and was admired by the poet laureate of women’s mental health treatment, Sylvia Plath, whose classic novel The Bell Jar even took inspiration from the film.

This screening will be introduced by scholar of in-patient mental health treatment, Dr. Morgan Shields, Assistant Professor at Washington University’s Brown School of Social Work.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Arkadin presents INSTITUTIONALIZED: MENTAL INSTITUTIONS ON FILM, a series of movies that depict asylums, sanitariums, and psychiatric hospitals — some with unvarnished realism, others with surrealism, whimsy or horror. At several screenings, academics and mental health experts will introduce the film with a talk that unpacks the film’s treatment of mental healthcare and provides context on the history of psychiatric institutions.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.