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| Anna Karenina - 1935 |
Our next film is 1935's "Anna Karenina", the doomed love story of the title character and the dashing Count Alexei Vronsky. Anna and Alexei take their romance from the heights of society to its bottom as they are gossiped about incessantly. And when Alexei joins his regiment for war, Anna makes a daring decision.
The film's cast includes Greta Garbo, Fredric March, Freddie Bartholomew, Maureen O'Sullivan, May Robson, Basil Rathbone, Reginald Owen, Reginald Denny, and Ethel Griffies.
Madame Anna Karenina and Count Alexei Vronsky first lay eyes on each other at a train station in Moscow. The two are instantly attracted to one another. Anna is visiting her brother and his family, while Alexei is meeting his mother at the station.
They meet later at a society ball. Alexei wants to dance every dance with Anna. "When I leave you, I'm
lost in a world of strangers. When I
touch your hand, we're alone," he tells her.
After the ball, Anna decides to return to her husband and child in St. Petersburg. Unbeknownst to her, Alexei follows her and makes his presence known only after they've made a stop during the long journey.
When Anna's husband meets her at the St. Petersburg train station, Alexei addresses Anna, who in turn introduces him to her husband.
Anna arrives at her home and is reunited with her son, Sergei. She showers him with presents, and the two are happy to be in each other's company again.
While in St. Petersburg, Anna and Alexei spend an increasing amount of time together. They become the object of gossip among society, not helped by their imprudent rendezvous together. They eventually confess their love for one another.
Anna is warned by her husband about her behavior. Their marriage is one of convenience, but he refuses to give her a divorce. He also says that if she insists on seeing Alexei that he will keep her from their son.
Alexei's mother also warns her son about the dangers of a relationship with Anna. She's concerned for his career and for his place in society. "I came here to give
you some good advice, which I knew in advance would not be
taken. It’s so refreshing not to be disappointed," says Countess Vronsky as she leaves.
Alexei is asked by his regiment to choose between his army career and Anna. Angrily, he resigns his commission.
He and Anna abandon everything in Russia and run away together to Venice to continue their love affair. "We'll be punished," says Anna, "for being so happy."
The reality of their situation begins to rear its ugly head. Anna's husband has refused her permission to see their son and has even told him that she is dead.
The cracks in their relationship eventually begin to show. Anna is upset at the situation with her son and she even feels that Alexei resents her for giving up everything so they can be together.
Back in St. Petersburg, they attend an opera in full view of the gathered society, who whisper about how it is inappropriate for Anna to even be there.
To make matters worse for Anna, Countess Vronsky has a lovely young companion whom she introduces to Alexei. Anna watches from her box jealously.
Anna's presence at the opera causes minor skirmishes to break out, drawing the attention of those in the nearby boxes, including Alexei who watches from afar.
However, during the next scene of the opera, Anna and Alexei patch up their differences and reaffirm their love.
When Alexei receives a letter requesting him to rejoin his regiment to take part in a war, Anna begs him not to go. Alexei refuses to be dishonorable and not rejoin his regiment when he's asked. He and Anna separate.
Anna goes to see him off at the station. However, she does not make her presence known when she sees Alexei saying goodbye to his mother and her young companion.
Thinking Alexei has abandoned her, Anna becomes despondent. She stays at the train station late into the night. Finally, when she can stand it no longer, Anna throws herself under the wheels of the moving train and commits suicide.
Later, Alexei is filled with regret as he stares at his picture of Anna, wishing that they had parted on better terms.
Cast rundown:
Greta Garbo................................Anna Karenina
Fredric March..............................Count Alexei Vronsky
Freddie Bartholomew....................Sergei
Maureen O'Sullivan.......................Kitty
May Robson.................................Countess Vronsky
Basil Rathbone.............................Karenin
Reginald Owen.............................Stiva
Reginald Denny............................Yashvin
Ethel Griffies................................Mme. Kartasov
And that's it for Anna Karenina. Apparently, Fredric March had a reputation in Hollywood for seducing his leading ladies. Aware of this and unwilling to participate in any of those antics, Greta Garbo wore garlic under her clothes and purposely had bad breath to hold his advances at bay. Because Garbo refused to work at night, MGM built a stage over the railway station in the final scene so that it could simulate darkness.
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