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The Snake Pit
''The Snake Pit'' is a 1948 American psychological drama film directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn, Celeste Holm, Beulah Bondi, and Lee Patrick. Based on Mary Jane Ward's 1946 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, the film recounts the tale of a woman who finds herself in an insane asylum and cannot remember how she got there. The novel was adapted for the screen by Frank Partos and Millen Brand, in screen credits order, and Arthur Laurents (uncredited). Plot Virginia Cunningham is an apparently schizophrenic patient at a mental hospital called the Juniper Hill State Hospital. She hears voices and seems so out of touch with reality that she does not recognize her husband Robert. Dr. Kik works with her, and flashbacks show how Virginia and Robert met a few years earlier in Chicago. He worked for a publisher who rejected her writing, and they bumped into each other again in the cafeteria. Occasionally she continue ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anatole Litvak
Anatoly Mikhailovich Litvak (10 May 1902 – 15 December 1974), commonly known as Anatole Litvak, was a Russian-American filmmaker. Born to Jewish parents in Kiev, he began his theatrical training at age 13 in Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, where he lived through the end of the Russian Revolution. He began his film directing career in Germany and France, before moving to the United States in the late 1930s. Litvak was notable for directing little-known foreign actors to early fame and is believed to have contributed to several actors winning Academy Awards. In 1936 he directed ''Mayerling (1936 film), Mayerling'', a film which made French actors Charles Boyer and Danielle Darrieux international stars. He returned Swedish star Ingrid Bergman to popularity with American audiences in 1956 with Anastasia (1956 film), ''Anastasia'', in which she won her second Oscar. He directed Olivia de Havilland to an Academy Award nomination for ''The Snake Pit'' (1948). He directed Jean Gabi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beulah Bondi
Beulah Bondi (born Beulah Bondy; May 3, 1888 – January 11, 1981) According to the State of California. ''California Death Index, 1940–1997''. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. At Ancestry.com was an American character actress; she often played eccentric mothers and later grandmothers and wives, although she was known for numerous other roles. She began her acting career as a young child in theater, and after establishing herself as a Broadway stage actress in 1925, she reprised her role in '' Street Scene'' for the 1931 film version. She played supporting roles in several films during the 1930s, and was twice nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She played the mother of James Stewart in four films: '' Of Human Hearts'', '' Vivacious Lady'', ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939), and '' It's a Wonderful Life'' (1946). Although at her height in Hollywood from the 1930s until the 1950s, Bond ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leif Erickson (actor)
Leif Erickson (born William Wycliffe Anderson; October 27, 1911 – January 29, 1986) was an American stage, film, and television actor. Early life Erickson was born in Alameda, California, near San Francisco. He worked as a soloist in a band as vocalist and trombone player, performed in Max Reinhardt's productions, and then gained a small amount of stage experience in a comedy vaudeville act. Military service Erickson enlisted in the United States Navy, U.S. Navy during World War II. Rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, he served as a War photography, military photographer, shooting film in combat zones, and as an instructor. He was shot down twice in the Pacific War, Pacific, and received two Purple Hearts. Erickson was in the unit that filmed and photographed the Surrender of Japan, Japanese surrender aboard the in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. Acting career Erickson's first films were two 1933 band films with Betty Grable ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Helen Craig (actress)
Helen Craig (May 13, 1912 – July 20, 1986) was an American actress, perhaps best known for her role on Broadway as the main character, Belinda, in '' Johnny Belinda''. Early years The daughter of copper executive Edward A. Craig, Helen Craig was born on May 13, 1912, in San Antonio, Texas. She had a sister, Marian, and two brothers, Robert and Edward Jr. Television As well as films, Craig appeared in numerous plays, and on television she had frequent appearances in ''The Waltons'', ''Kojak'' and ''The Bionic Woman''. Stage Craig was "a graduate of the Orson Welles' celebrated Mercury Theatre". Her Broadway credits include ''Russet Mantle'' (1936), ''Soliloquy'' (1938), '' The Unconquered'' (1940), ''Johnny Belinda'' (1940), ''As You Like It'' (1941), '' Lute Song'' (1946), ''Land's End'' (1946), ''The House of Bernarda Alba'' (1951), ''Diamond Orchid'' (1965), and '' More Stately Mansions'' (1967). Her work in ''Johnny Belinda'' required her to learn sign language, which she ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Glenn Langan
Glenn Langan (July 8, 1917 – January 26, 1991) was an American character actor on stage and films. Early years Born in Denver, Colorado, Langan was the son of Thomas Langan and Kate Quinn Langan. He attended schools there. His early training in theatre came in Denver, where he was stage manager at Elitch's Gardens, handling various behind-the-scenes duties. Langan went to New York, washing dishes in a cafeteria and taking other jobs while he sought acting jobs by visiting producers' offices. Fainting on a street resulted in a stay in Polyclinic Hospital for treatment of malnutrition. Career Langan made his Broadway debut in ''Glamour Preferred'' (1940). His other Broadway credits included '' A Kiss for Cinderella'' (1942), and ''Fancy Meeting You Again'' (1952). He made his credited film debut in '' The Return of Doctor X'' (1939). His other stage experiences included performing in ''Johnny Belinda'' and ''Glamor Preferred''. Langan appeared as a French professor in the ro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Straitjacket
A straitjacket is a garment shaped like a jacket with long sleeves that surpass the tips of the wearer's fingers. Its most typical use is restraining people who may cause harm to themselves or others. Once the wearer's arms are in the sleeves, the person restraining the wearer crosses the sleeves against the chest and ties the ends of the sleeves to the back of the jacket, ensuring the arms are close to the chest with as little movement as possible. Although ''straitjacket'' is the most common spelling, ''strait-jacket'' or ''straightjacket'' are also used. Straitjackets are also called camisoles or strait-waistcoats. The effect of a straitjacket as a restraint makes it of special interest in escapology. The straitjacket is also a staple theatrical property, prop in magic (illusion), stage magic. The straitjacket comes from the Georgian era of medicine. Physical restraint was used both as treatment for mental illness and to pacify patients in understaffed psychiatric hospital, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Narcosynthesis
Narcosynthesis is a technique of treating post-traumatic stress disorder popularized by psychiatrists in the post-World War II era. Also called sodium amytal interview, amobarbital interview, or amytal interview, it uses free association as well as dream and during the session as a basis for uncovering relevant topics for later therapeutic discussion. Uses Medical While extraordinarily rare today, narcosynthesis procedures (using sodium amytal and pentothal) were widely used in the United States in the post-World War II era when only a very few psychiatric treatments were available. Administered as an inpatient hospital admission and overseen by an anesthesiologist, this procedure remains used in only the most extreme cases in the U.S.. In 1930, Dr. William Bleckwenn introduced narcoanalysis as a therapy for severely schizophrenic Schizophrenia () is a mental disorder characterized variously by hallucinations (typically, Auditory hallucination#Schizophrenia, hear ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a psychiatry, psychiatric treatment that causes a generalized seizure by passing electrical current through the brain. ECT is often used as an intervention for mental disorders when other treatments are inadequate. Conditions responsive to ECT include major depressive disorder, mania, and catatonia.FDAFDA Executive Summary Prepared for the January 27–28, 2011 meeting of the Neurological Devices Panel Meeting to Discuss the Classification of Electroconvulsive Therapy Devices (ECT). Quote, p. 38: "Three major practice guidelines have been published on ECT. These guidelines include: APA Task Force on ECT (2001); Third report of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Special Committee on ECT (2004); National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE 2003; NICE 2009). There is significant agreement between the three sets of recommendations." The general physical risks of ECT are similar to those of brief general anesthesia. Immediately fol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Psychosis
In psychopathology, psychosis is a condition in which a person is unable to distinguish, in their experience of life, between what is and is not real. Examples of psychotic symptoms are delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized or incoherent thoughts or speech. Psychosis is a description of a person's state or symptoms, rather than a particular mental illness, and it is not related to psychopathy (a personality construct characterized by impaired empathy and remorse, along with bold, disinhibited, and egocentric traits). Common causes of chronic (i.e. ongoing or repeating) psychosis include schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and brain damage (usually as a result of alcoholism). Acute (temporary) psychosis can also be caused by severe distress, sleep deprivation, sensory deprivation, some medications, and drug use (including alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogens, and stimulants). Acute psychosis is termed primary if it results from a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Auditory Hallucinations
An auditory hallucination, or paracusia, is a form of hallucination that involves perceiving sounds without auditory stimulus. While experiencing an auditory hallucination, the affected person hears a sound or sounds that did not come from the natural environment. A common form of auditory hallucination involves hearing one or more voices without a speaker present, known as an ''auditory verbal hallucination''. This may be associated with psychotic disorders, most notably schizophrenia, and this phenomenon is often used to diagnose these conditions. However, individuals without any psychiatric disease whatsoever may hear voices, including those under the influence of mind-altering substances, such as cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, and PCP. There are three main categories into which the hearing of talking voices often fall: a person hearing a voice speak one's thoughts, a person hearing one or more voices arguing, or a person hearing a voice narrating their own actions. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Insane Asylum
The lunatic asylum, insane asylum or mental asylum was an institution where people with mental illness were confined. It was an early precursor of the modern psychiatric hospital. Modern psychiatric hospitals evolved from and eventually replaced the older lunatic asylum. The treatment of inmates in early lunatic asylums was sometimes brutal and focused on containment and restraint. The discovery of anti-psychotic drugs and mood-stabilizing drugs resulted in a shift in focus from containment in lunatic asylums to treatment in psychiatric hospitals. Later, there was further and more thorough critique in the form of the deinstitutionalization movement which focuses on treatment at home or in less isolated institutions. History Medieval era In the Islamic world, the '' Bimaristans'' were described by European travellers, who wrote about their wonder at the care and kindness shown to lunatics. In 872, Ahmad ibn Tulun built a hospital in Cairo that provided care to the insane, whic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Autobiographical Novel
An autobiographical novel, also known as an autobiographical fiction, fictional autobiography, or autobiographical fiction novel, is a type of novel which uses autofiction techniques, or the merging of autobiographical and fictive elements. The literary technique is distinguished from a typical autobiography or memoir by being a work of ''fiction'' presented in the same fashion as a typical non-fiction autobiography by "imitating the conventions of an autobiography." Because an autobiographical novel is partially fiction, the author does not ask the reader to expect the text to fulfill the "autobiographical pact".Philippe Lejeune, "Autobiographical Pact", pg. 19. Names and locations are often changed and events are recreated to make them more dramatic but the story still bears a close resemblance to that of the author's life. While the events of the author's life are recounted, there is no pretense of exact truth. Events may be exaggerated or altered for artistic or thematic pur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
