Anna Karenina (1935)

The married Anna Karenina falls in love with Count Vronsky despite her husband's refusal to grant a divorce, and both must contend with the social repercussions.

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

Leo Tolstoy (from the novel by), Clemence Dane (screen play),

Stars:

Greta Garbo, Fredric March, Freddie Bartholomew

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Greta Garbo	...	Anna Karenina
Fredric March	...	Vronsky
Freddie Bartholomew	...	Sergei
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Kitty
May Robson	...	Countess Vronsky
Basil Rathbone	...	Karenin
Reginald Owen	...	Stiva
Phoebe Foster	...	Dolly
Reginald Denny	...	Yashvin
Gyles Isham	...	Levin
Joan Marsh	...	Lili
Ethel Griffies	...	Mme. Kartasoff
Harry Beresford	...	Matve
Sarah Padden	...	Governess
Cora Sue Collins	...	Tania

Storyline

This version of the Tolstoy classic lingers longer in Moscow during the weeks that follow the initial meeting of the starstruck lovers-to-be Vronsky and Anna Karenina. The story -- as it unfolds -- also focuses on Kitty, a young woman who is related to Anna's sister-in-law whose marital rift has brought Anna to Moscow. Until Anna shows up, Kitty had hopes of getting Vronsky, who is single and well connected, to propose to her. Ignored by Vronsky, Kitty turns her attention to another suitor, a man who seems to have a lot in common with Tolstoy.

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Plot Keywords:

divorce | love | melodrama | russian army | ballet | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1935 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Ana Karenina

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,152,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Aware that her co-star Fredric March was notorious for seducing his leading ladies, Greta Garbo reportedly wore garlic under her clothes and purposely had bad breath in order to stave off his advances.

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Goofs

When Anna arrives in Dolly's room, they hold hands, which then changes in the next shot.

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Quotes

Dolly: Sometimes I think... I compare my life to yours. You travel, you go to Italy, you do what you like. You are loved. While I... no ecstasy, no glamour, all the things you have. And Sergei? What of him?
Anna Karenina: I don't see him. Karenin won't let me see him.
Dolly: Oh. That must be hard.
Dolly: Well, whatever way one lives, there's a penalty, I suppose.

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Connections

Featured in The Divine Garbo (1990)

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Soundtracks

"Eugene Onegin, Op. 24)"
(1879) (uncredited)
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Libretto by Konstantin Shilovsky, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Modest Tchaikovsky
Based on the novel by Alexander Pushkin
Opera Excerpts performed at the theater

User Reviews

Basil Rathbone

To me, Basil Rathbone is the one and only superior actor in this film. Fans might disagree, but I find Garbo rather unconvincingly playing the [in my mind] fragile and victimized Anna character. Garbo's screen presence is so strong that, combined with her voice and perhaps also due to the extreme soft-light shots, she gives the impression of a winner, a survivor, a diva. Also the direction and adaptation by Clarence Brown deserve a compliment.