Year: 1948
Duration: 01:43:47
Directed by: Anatole Litvak
Actors: Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn, Celeste Holm
Language: English
Country: USA
Also known as: Die Schlangengrube, Menschen im Schatten, La fosse aux serpents, A Cova da Serpente
Description: DeHevillend as Virginia Stuart Cunningham, mentally unstable young woman placed in a mental institution by her husband, Robert Cunningham. He loves his wife, but realizes that the help he can give her enough. Fortunately, the event draws attention of Virginia Dr. Mark Kika, patient, thoughtful and attentive doctor. It takes her most of the time. Although the hospital is full, and the staff is not enough, the doctor can focus on her illness, while trying hard to do everything we can to the hospital does not become a “snake pit”, as referred to as “mental hospital.” Although the diseases themselves, and how to treat them sound simplistic, the film was the first major topic it has spread to this realism.
Review: Life of Virginia happy turned into a nightmare. She does not know who she hears a mysterious voice, not oriented in either space or time, and can not remember the past. Soon she realizes that he was in a psychiatric hospital. And so he begins to remember his past – how she followed her husband, of casualties with her fiance and in what was her childhood. It is in childhood and underlying causes of the condition into which Virginia was. Virginie help recover and get to the depths of the subconscious comes Dr. Kik, which is seriously interested, the case of Virginia. Dr. Kik, caring physician who is not obsessed with red tape, and a supporter of individual psychoanalytic patient. Now the problem to get out of Virginia “snake pit” and return to normal life.
The film became one of the “pioneers” showing more life mentally unstable people. Also worth noting that the makers of the film was a daunting task, show a pretty delicate subject and still interest the viewer. By the way their tasks the director and producer have coped well, as the film was a success, both with critics and the audience. A bit of history of the film, “Litvak bought the rights to the book, Mary Jane Ward for 75 thousand dollars and tried to break the project at all of the studios. After that, he turned to his friend, Darryl F. Zanuck (head of the studio «20th Century Fox») – in the “Fox” then rarely pitched in independent productions. Zanuck was initially wary sensitive issues, but told him conviction that films should address the serious problems of society. Agreed to finance the film, Zanuck worked closely with Litvak’s work to reduce the script to flatten the most unpleasant moments for the viewer. Litvak spent three months preparing, studying psychiatric hospitals and forcing actors to accompany him. ”
The entire “burden” of the film naturally lay on the shoulders of the performer role of Virginia – Olivia de Havilland. That she had to translate on the screen complex emotional image of a mentally unstable woman and thus force the viewer to empathize with her character. De Hevilend famous one of the best actresses of her generation, which is not supported by a small number of various awards and nominations. It must be said that the great actress to play its role.
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