(1948)
2
Craig Butler
A fascinating misfire that contains some intriguing elements, Anna Karenina is a frustrating adaptation of the famed Tolstoy novel that drains its of passion and life. Amazingly, this seems to have been the intention of the filmmakers; while it is certainly an interesting way to approach the material, and they are to be credited for trying something different, the end result simply does not work. Staying faithful to the surface of the novel, director-scenarist Julien Duvivier and his co-writers Jean Anouilh and Guy Morgan alter emphases throughout in such a way that a cold, sterile film is created. This might have worked if this sterility applied only to Anna's married life and was contrasted with genuine heat being generated during her relationship with Vronsky, but this doesn't come off. A great deal of the blame for this failure is the utterly inept performance of Kieron Moore as Vronsky, but even with a richer performance, it is likely that the coldness would have persisted. While the physical production is glorious, Duvivier's direction causes the film to drag inexorably; even though he pulls out some marvelous visual tricks, they do not manage to overcome the lifelessness behind his approach. In the title role, Vivien Leigh is glorious, creating a portrait of self-destruction that is frightening and compelling, and Ralph Richardson is brilliantly frigid. These performances are frequently stunning, but the film in which they are showcased simply doesn't work.
Anna Karenina on AllMovie
Anna Karenina (1948)
