Vivien Leigh fights with husband Ralph Richardson. Image: IMDB
Get this: Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel, Anna Karenina, has been adapted to the screen over 20(!) times.
Tolstoy’s novel, depending on the publisher, usually runs 800+ pages, with lots of interesting goings-on which make for a fine movie.
This hefty Russian novel, dubbed one of the greatest works of literature, first ran in instalments over a two-year period before the complete novel was published in 1878.
It has an impressive Cast of Characters. Politicians, landowners, military officers, rich ladies who Entertain, and mothers + children scurry throughout the pages, fulfilling their goals and personal desires.
The titular character is, of course, Anna Karenina, wife of a Very Important but Self-Absorbed Bureaucrat. However! On a train from St. Petersburg to Moscow, Anna meets a Dashing military officer with whom she falls in love.
There’s far more to the novel than this scandalous business, but let’s face it: If you’re a filmmaker looking to do a screen adaptation, what would you focus on?
The trouble is, extramarital affairs have been done zillions of times in movies. What would make any particular Tolstoy version stand out from the other adaptations, never mind all the other movies with Cheating Spouse story lines?
The trick, in our opinion, lies in the casting.
Rich lovers in exile. Image: IMDb
In the 1948 film version, of Anna Karenina, Anna was played by Vivien Leigh who gives her audience a truly convincing performance.
Now, Vivien Leigh was often accused of never deviating from her superstar-making role of Scarlett O’Hara, as in: She seemed to only play variations of Scarlett O’Hara.
That may be true, but what of it? Leigh is always superb as a woman who never quite fits into society and has the guts to live her life the way she Wants.
It is exactly this kind of actress you need for the character of Anna, a woman who undergoes an incredible transformation from sweet and obliging wife, to uncooperative and jealous outcast.
The other cast member that must be carefully chosen is Anna’s cuckolded husband, an ambitious, shallow man who cares more for his public image than his family, yet is wounded by his wife’s indiscretion.
The brilliant Ralph Richardson plays Anna’s husband and, sadly, he has little screen time. But he’s not Ralph Richardson for nothing! He gives you the impression he could walk into any scene at any moment – like a husband returning home unexpectedly.
You can build a fairly decent film around actors like Leigh and Richardson, even if you only Scratch the Surface of Tolstoy’s masterpiece.
Interestingly, Irish actor Kieron Moore plays Leigh’s love interest, even though he doesn’t have nearly the charisma or depth of the two leads. Yet, he’s a shrewd casting choice because he rarely registers the passion Leigh does, which – Spoiler! – reveals the way his character will ultimately feel about the relationship.
Trains are a recurring motif. Image: IMDb
This particular version of Anna Karenina was to be set in France, but producer Alexander Korda felt it ought to take place in Russia as per the novel.
It was not a smooth production, and it was a box-office flop. Many say Leigh could not stare down Greta Garbo’s supposedly legendary portrayal of Anna in the 1935 film.
Although big swaths of the novel were left out of the 1948 script, director Julien Duvivier took pains to emphasize pivotal moments in Anna’s story. For example, he focuses on trains just as Tolstoy did in the novel. Trains represent the Russian society in transition, but they also serve as signposts of Anna’s fate.
Overall, this is a bit of an uneven film because the script feels like it’s missing a leg. Yet the directing is thoughtful and sensitive, while the film’s designers received unanimous praise for their work.
Should you watch the 1948 version of Anna Karenina? You should – whether you’ve read the novel or not – only to see Vivien Leigh and Ralph Richardson re-create two of literature’s most memorable characters.
Anna Karenina: starring Vivien Leigh, Ralph Richardson, Kieron Moore. Directed by Julien Duvivier. Written by Jean Anouilh, Guy Morgan, Julien Duvivier. London Film Productions, 1948, B&W, 139 mins.
Wow, you have to do some serious scrolling once you get the search results for Anna Karenina in IMDb! You’d think trying to adapt an 800 page tome would deter more people, but as you say, it’s easy enough to figure out what the important, crowd-pleasing aspects are and get on with it. It also says something about Vivien Leigh’s fortitude that she decided to recreate the role with Garbo’s version still somewhat fresh in people’s minds. She almost joined Garbo in the rarefied 7/10 IMDb rating club, but not quite. 🙂
I really want to see this with this cast, it sounds wonderful. I loved Ralph Richardson in Woman of Straw .. and I loved your description of those characters scurrying through the pages. Lovely post, Ruth.
I watched this movie probably about a decade ago and recall not liking it much, but I was also comparing it to the Garbo version, so maybe I should try again with a more open mind. I tend to enjoy Vivien Leigh in anything– and I totally forgot Ralph Richardson was the husband here!
How odd… to me (and to most Italians actually) Julien Duvivier is mostly known for writing the comedies of Don Camillo, which most Italians can quote by heart and are exilarating but also faithful portraits of northern Italy in the ’50. It’s not easy to imagine him writing Vivien Leigh’s dialogues but you made me really curious now…
I’ve actually never seen *any* version of this. Eek. But this is the one I would watch, I think. “The trick, in our opinion, lies in the casting.” So true. And, again, true of “so what of it?” I’d love to see Vivien playing this role.
Oh yeah, Vivien Leigh is a perfect Anna. However, I’ve yet to see the Garbo version, but it’s hard to imagine her performance being better than Leigh’s.
Loved your post, Ruth — and you have convinced me to check out this version of Anna Karenina! I’m a big fan of all things Garbo, but I love Vivien Leigh, too (and Ralph Richardson is the veritable bomb dot com), so I don’t have to force myself. Thank you for putting another film on my watchlist!
I’ve always wondered about this version of Anna Karenina–it seems like it would be a very natural part of Leigh considering her own life experiences, at least with some bits. Garbo’s shadow was too big, though, like you said.
I have yet to see the Garbo version, and she’s probably good as Anna K. She was, after all, the very essence of Noble Suffering in Camille. (Sorry, I have a bit of an aversion to Garbo. But I’m hoping to see just one film that will change all that…and maybe it’s her Anna Karenina.)
I knew there were a lot of film version of Anna Karenina, but I didn’t realise there were that many. The 1948 version is probably on of the very best, with some standout performances, and great interpretation of the hefty source material.
Once you search for “Anna Karenina” on IMDb, be prepared for some serious scrolling! Adapting an 800-page tome might discourage many, but it seems people easily identify the crucial and crowd-pleasing elements. Vivien Leigh’s portrayal of the role, with Garbo’s version still lingering in people’s minds, speaks volumes about her fortitude. Though she came close, she didn’t quite make it to the rarefied 7/10 IMDb rating club alongside Garbo.
I didn’t know Anna Karenina had been adapted to screen more than 20 times. I haven’t watched this particular adaptation, but I love Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire and Gone With The Wind, so I’m curious to watch this movie now.
Anna Karenina is a great novel. A few years ago, when I reread it, I realised how many details and descriptions of her emotions I had missed. I read this book for the first time when I was younger. Now I understand Anna more. Great novel and Vivien Leigh is an amazing actress.
Silver Screenings 
Wow, you have to do some serious scrolling once you get the search results for Anna Karenina in IMDb! You’d think trying to adapt an 800 page tome would deter more people, but as you say, it’s easy enough to figure out what the important, crowd-pleasing aspects are and get on with it. It also says something about Vivien Leigh’s fortitude that she decided to recreate the role with Garbo’s version still somewhat fresh in people’s minds. She almost joined Garbo in the rarefied 7/10 IMDb rating club, but not quite. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly! An 800-page book has been adapted an incredible amount of times, hey? Those filmmakers are to be commended.
I haven’t seen Greta Garbo’s Anna Karenina, but I can’t imagine it being so much better than Leigh’s performance…
LikeLike
I really want to see this with this cast, it sounds wonderful. I loved Ralph Richardson in Woman of Straw .. and I loved your description of those characters scurrying through the pages. Lovely post, Ruth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Ralph Richardson on screen. You can hardly take your eyes off him. Thanks for the heads up re: Woman of Straw.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a great Hitchcockian movie and young Sean Connery is a treat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I watched this movie probably about a decade ago and recall not liking it much, but I was also comparing it to the Garbo version, so maybe I should try again with a more open mind. I tend to enjoy Vivien Leigh in anything– and I totally forgot Ralph Richardson was the husband here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I kind of have an aversion to Greta Garbo, so I’ve never seen her version. However, I did include it in my TBR list, so I’ll see it soon.
As for Ralph Richardson, has he given a bad performance in anything? I can’t think of an example.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How odd… to me (and to most Italians actually) Julien Duvivier is mostly known for writing the comedies of Don Camillo, which most Italians can quote by heart and are exilarating but also faithful portraits of northern Italy in the ’50. It’s not easy to imagine him writing Vivien Leigh’s dialogues but you made me really curious now…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve got to see it! I need to know what you think.
LikeLike
I always wondered how in the world people can write books but I never thought about what went into turning the book into a film!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be a huge undertaking, wouldn’t it? Makes me tired just thinking about it!
LikeLike
I haven’t seen this version yet, but it certainly does have star appeal!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, you’re right – huge star appeal. I love Vivien Leigh & Ralph Richardson as the unhappy couple.
LikeLike
I’ve actually never seen *any* version of this. Eek. But this is the one I would watch, I think. “The trick, in our opinion, lies in the casting.” So true. And, again, true of “so what of it?” I’d love to see Vivien playing this role.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vivien Leigh has a way of commanding the screen, even (especially?) when she’s being vulnerable. I loved her in this version.
I hope July is treating you well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never actually read War and Peace but I’d certainly like to see this version–I love Vivian Leigh in anything!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yeah, Vivien Leigh is a perfect Anna. However, I’ve yet to see the Garbo version, but it’s hard to imagine her performance being better than Leigh’s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved your post, Ruth — and you have convinced me to check out this version of Anna Karenina! I’m a big fan of all things Garbo, but I love Vivien Leigh, too (and Ralph Richardson is the veritable bomb dot com), so I don’t have to force myself. Thank you for putting another film on my watchlist!
— Karen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vivien Leigh and Ralph Richardson are sooo good in their scenes as the Unhappy Couple. It’s too bad they didn’t do more films together.
LikeLike
I’ve always wondered about this version of Anna Karenina–it seems like it would be a very natural part of Leigh considering her own life experiences, at least with some bits. Garbo’s shadow was too big, though, like you said.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have yet to see the Garbo version, and she’s probably good as Anna K. She was, after all, the very essence of Noble Suffering in Camille. (Sorry, I have a bit of an aversion to Garbo. But I’m hoping to see just one film that will change all that…and maybe it’s her Anna Karenina.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I’m right there with you–she seems best in small doses. Hope you get to see the movie, though. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I knew there were a lot of film version of Anna Karenina, but I didn’t realise there were that many. The 1948 version is probably on of the very best, with some standout performances, and great interpretation of the hefty source material.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t realize there were that many versions, either. Just shows the timelessness of Tolstoy’s novel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve always wondered about this version of Anna Karenina
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, you should see it! Vivien Leigh is utterly fabulous as Anna. Which version is your favourite?
LikeLike
Once you search for “Anna Karenina” on IMDb, be prepared for some serious scrolling! Adapting an 800-page tome might discourage many, but it seems people easily identify the crucial and crowd-pleasing elements. Vivien Leigh’s portrayal of the role, with Garbo’s version still lingering in people’s minds, speaks volumes about her fortitude. Though she came close, she didn’t quite make it to the rarefied 7/10 IMDb rating club alongside Garbo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s astonishing to see how many film adaptations there are of Anna Karenina, isn’t it? Is the Garbo version one of your favourites?
LikeLike
Perfectly said
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Which film adaptation is your favourite?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know Anna Karenina had been adapted to screen more than 20 times. I haven’t watched this particular adaptation, but I love Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire and Gone With The Wind, so I’m curious to watch this movie now.
LikeLiked by 3 people
She’s soo good in this film. Vivien Leigh has a way of getting your sympathy no matter what her chatacter may do. I hope you get the chance to see it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anna Karenina is a great novel. A few years ago, when I reread it, I realised how many details and descriptions of her emotions I had missed. I read this book for the first time when I was younger. Now I understand Anna more. Great novel and Vivien Leigh is an amazing actress.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tolstoy is so perceptive and insightful, isn’t he? Anna Karenina is an amazing book, and I had trouble putting it down. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person