Greta Garbo's 1935 film is not perfect. As much as I like Fredric March in most films(primarily Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde) I found him ill suited for Vronsky. However, it was visually stunning with a heart-rending suicide scene as well as superb performances from Garbo and Basil Rathbone. This 1948 film, starring Vivien Leigh this time, is worthy but I do prefer Garbo's personally. As with any film adaptation of the book, the film does deserve credit for compressing a long book into a just over 130 minute film. While there are scenes that are inevitably not as powerful, it does do credibly and perhaps adaptation-wise it is a little superior to Garbo's film. However, the screenplay while literate and thoughtful in some parts is also rather thin to sustain the story in others. Consequently the film does feel overlong and there are times also where it feels turgid pacing-wise. And as much as I hate to say it, as handsome as Kieron Moore is I found him as Vronsky miscast, he is too dull and the conviction of drama is lost for my liking. There is still much to like though. It is sumptuously filmed, with ornate settings and costumes, and the score is of poignant delicacy. It is beautifully directed by Julien Duvivier, and apart from Moore I thought the cast were fine. It was lovely to see Sally Ann Howes, Martita Hunt and Michael Gough and Vivien Leigh as ever gives a dazzlingly beautiful performance in the title role, but the acting honours go to Ralph Richardson whose Karenin is authoritative and superbly unbending. In conclusion, a worthy film adaptation. 7/10 Bethany Cox.
Review of Anna Karenina
