The Cobweb

Dr. Stewart McIver takes charge of the long-running psychiatric hospital, stepping in for the aging medical director Dr. Douglas Devanal. He must manage a demanding roster of troubled patients while his wife Karen grows frustrated by his absence. The opening establishes the power dynamics between McIver, Devanal, and the rest of the staff.

McIver confronts the needs of several patients, notably Stevie Holte, a possibly suicidal artist, and the self-loathing Mr. Capp. His heavy workload strains Karen’s patience and their marriage. The film sets up the personal and professional pressures weighing on McIver.

Victoria Inch orders unattractive drapes for the clinic library, prompting Karen to purchase a more expensive, colorful set. She secures board approval for the change, but does so without McIver’s knowledge. The incident highlights the clash between frugality and flair in the institution’s management.

McIver allows the patients, especially Stevie, to design and create the drapes themselves. This choice shifts responsibility onto the patients and foreshadows conflicts between artistic freedom and institutional control. The hospital atmosphere grows more volatile as creativity collides with policy.

Dr. Devanal’s drinking problem persists and he carries on an affair with his secretary Miss Cobb. He also makes a clumsy pass at Karen, intensifying the marital and professional tensions around the hospital leadership. The behavior undermines his authority at a critical time.

McIver begins to fall for Meg Rinehart, a member of his staff. This budding romance complicates professional boundaries and adds another layer of tension to the already fragile workplace dynamics. Colleagues watch the relationship with wary interest.

Victoria Inch privately schemes to expose Devanal’s indiscretions at the next board meeting and issues a veiled threat to McIver. Her machinations elevate the atmosphere of distrust within the institution. The potential scandal threatens the stability of leadership.

Devanal’s wife Edna wrongly suspects McIver is behind the plot to discredit her husband. The misperception strains relationships and adds to the fraught dynamics among the hospital’s top figures. Trust among the leadership becomes increasingly fragile.

Stevie goes on a date with Sue Brett but becomes distressed when the drapes installed do not reflect the artwork that inspired him. His disappointment foreshadows a deeper emotional crisis. The episode deepens Stevie’s fragile state and his sense of disconnect from the hospital’s decisions.

Stevie vanishes, triggering a search party and igniting fears that he may have attempted suicide. McIver must balance the ongoing duties of running the institution with the urgent need to locate the missing patient. The crisis compounds the mounting pressure on everyone involved.

Following the turmoil, Dr. Devanal submits his resignation to the board. The act signals a potential turning point in the hospital’s leadership and casts a shadow over the institution’s future direction. Colleagues react with a mix of relief and concern.

After the tumultuous board meeting, the McIvers decide to work on their marriage and head home together. They commit to supporting one another despite the surrounding chaos. The moment marks a fragile pause in the escalating drama.

The crisis concludes with evidence that Stevie has survived his suicide attempt, bringing a cautious sense of relief to the hospital and to the McIver family. The outcome underscores the thin line between despair and hope within the psychiatric setting. The film closes with this fragile resolution.