Rent Greta Garbo Collection: Anna Karenina (1935)

Fantastic Film - Greta Garbo Collection: Anna Karenina review by PT

Firstly I point out that I have not read the book, hence my title. I have no doubt the book is fantastic too, although I think it's an advantage to solely judge the film, as that's what interests us here.

Garbo is sensational as the title character, capturing brilliantly a woman torn apart by the loves of her life. The film deals with the extra marital affair of Anna and Vronsky, who must face the consequences of their actions. Greta Garbo is mesmerising, from her opening scene ( a stunning take of the train smoke clearing to reveal her for the first time for Voronsky to behold) to her final scene. Garbo has a truly consummate talent of revealing the characters thoughts through her eyes especially, and expressions and gestures in general, which has never been equalled before or since by any perrformer, in my humble opinion. Fredric March is great as her lover , as is Basil Rathbone as her estranged, merciless husband. Freddie Bartholomew puts in a fine performance too, as her young son, with some very memorable scenes with Garbo. Maureen O'Sullivan also shines as Kitty, a pretty almost innocent young lady who can't compete with Anna's attraction.

A powerful, emotional film that I know will always stay with me. Thoroughly recommend this.

Literary Drama. - Greta Garbo Collection: Anna Karenina review by Steve

Handsome MGM production which reduces Leo Tolstoy's weighty novel to a 90 minute romance. So it's all about Greta Garbo suffering in the title role rather than the long haul of Russian political and social change. She'd already appeared in a silent version called Love in 1927 for the same studio, which has a happy ending!

Garbo got her favourite co-star for that, John Gilbert. This time it's the usually excellent Fredric March as Vronsky. The main problem is the lack of passion between them. She is inert and he lacks spark; there is no chemistry. Maybe the newly implemented Production Code kept the lid on. At least the censors let the famous suicide stand..

Clarence Brown seems more confident directing the lavish sets than he does the lovers. Some of the camera movement is stunning. There are good support performances, particularly Basil Rathbone as Anna's inflexible, conformist husband. And Maureen O'Sullivan is so beautiful, it's hard to take your eyes off her.

Part of the problem is that the Russian aristocracy is portrayed as entitled and yet useless, but there is little reflection on their privilege. Too much MGM, not enough Tolstoy. Instead there are closeups of Garbo. It's a listless, melancholy film with a patchy script, though the novel probably hasn't been done any better. In English anyway.