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

In a separately filmed trailer sequence, Freddie Bartholomew talks to the audience and tells them about the picture.

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Goofs

Shadows of equipment are visible in the scene where Karenin confronts Anna.

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Quotes

Anna Karenina: You say this knowing this I cannot do. There is no life for me without my child. To leave him would be infamous and base. I couldn't. And you know I couldn't.
Karenin: Very well. I can assume, then, that you will never again jeopardize my honor.
Anna Karenina: Oh, your honor! Your selfishness! Your hypocrisy! Your egotism! You've never considered me as a human being. Your social position and... your reputation. These must be kept up at what cost to those who are around you? At what cost?
Karenin: [Checking his pocket watch] ...

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Connections

Version of Anna Karenina (1974)

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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

Excellent production with Garbo in top form.

Garbo earned the first NYC Film Critics Best Actress Award for this performance and she is fine, totally believable as the happily married wife and mother who permits an obsessed count to destroy her life. The production values are first rate with some very impressive moments: the opening tracking shot down the table laid with food, the ball where cinematography, sound recording and editing all work together to seamlessly convey scads of dialogue (it must have been hell choreographing this), the meeting in the shadow and light filled garden by the pool, Garbo's entrance first seen behind a screen filled with steam (note Vivien Leigh's similar entrance in STREETCAR). Completely absorbing from start to finish and very worth your attention. Formerly available on MGM/UA video (now out of print) and just released on DVD to coincide with Garbo's birth centenary (9/05).