Anna Karenina (1948)

Top cast50

Edit

Vivien Leigh

Anna Karenina

Ralph Richardson

Karenin

Kieron Moore

Count Vronsky

Hugh Dempster

Stepan Oblonsky

Mary Kerridge

Dolly Oblonsky

Marie Lohr

Princess Shcherbatsky

Frank Tickle

Prince Shcherbatsky

Sally Ann Howes

Kitty Shcherbatsky

Niall MacGinnis

Levin
(as Niall Macginnis)

Michael Gough

Nicholai

Martita Hunt

Princess Betty Tversky

Heather Thatcher

Countess Lydia Ivanovna

Helen Haye

Countess Vronsky

Mary Martlew

Princess Nathalia

Ruby Miller

Countess Meskov

Austin Trevor

Col. Vronsky

Ann South

Princess Sorokina

Gus Verney

Prince Makhotin

More like this

7.2

That Hamilton Woman

6.2

Caesar and Cleopatra

6.4

The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

7.0

6.5

7.7

6.3

6.1

6.5

7.0

7.3

6.3

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Vivien Leigh's costumes were made in Paris by Barbara Karinska to Cecil Beaton's designs. She was in such pain wearing them that she even went to her doctor fearing she had broken her ribs. It was subsequently discovered that the dresser had been putting the corsets on upside down.

Goofs
"Everything was in confusion in the Oblonsky's House," reads a title at the start of the film. The s and the apostrophe should be in each other's places, and the word "house" should not be capitalised.

Quotes
Anna Karenina: My dear Korsunsky, you know very well I never dance unless I can help it.

Crazy credits
Closing credits: "And the light by which she had been reading the book of life, blazed up suddenly, illuminating those pages that had been dark, then flickered, grew dim, and went out forever".

Alternate versions
U.S. release version runs approximately 112 minutes. This is the version issued by Fox DVD in 2007.

Connections
Featured in Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond (1990)

Soundtracks
Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture
(uncredited)
Music by Mikhail Glinka
Arranged by Constant Lambert

Best film version of Tolstoy's classic

There is very little to find fault with in this screen update of Tolstoy's classic story. Vivien Leigh is near perfection as the main character. What makes this film work is the way our tragic heroine is shown in relation to the elements that surround her: the scenes of train journeys in winter to and from Russia; and the warm weather and grandeur of a summer spent in Venice.

The supporting players are very effective and match Miss Leigh's talents in the most important scenes. The moment where Anna breaks in to see her son who has been told she died should not be missed. But the single greatest aspect of this film is the inner journey this character takes, as envisioned by Tolstoy. It is a harrowing confrontation of one's fate and delivered bravely as only this classic actress can.