Anna Karenina | Rotten Tomatoes

Anna Karenina

1935

1h 35m

Drama

List

86%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

70%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

This 19th-century period piece is an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel. On a trip to St. Petersburg, Anna Karenina (Greta Garbo), neglected wife of the famed Alexei Alexandrovitch Karenin (Basil Rathbone), meets a handsome military officer, Count Vronsky (Freddie Bartholomew). Vronsky becomes enamored of Anna and follows her back to Moscow to confess his feelings. Will she follow her heart to be with him, even if it destroys her family and results in public disgrace?

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Pare Lorentz

McCall's

Anna Karenina could have been more tragic and stirring had the director not shown us his lovelorn heroine in conventional shopworn situations.

Oct 30, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

With such a brief running time, it's difficult to create a convincing union - both during the moments of bliss and quarreling, which are equally rushed.

Rated: 5/10

Jul 24, 2020

Full Review

Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy)

Esquire Magazine

Fine, fine, and super-fine, if the least bit archaic.

May 4, 2020

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

If you still doubt either Hollywood's ability to deal with a masterpiece or Greta Garbo's greatness as an artist, this is the picture to see.

Oct 4, 2019

Full Review

Helen Brown Norden

Vanity Fair

There seems more of anguish and more of sombre depth in this version than there was in the old silent film (with Garbo and John Gilbert). Garbo acts with a dignity and a bitter passion.

Jun 12, 2019

Full Review

Graham Greene

The Spectator

It is Greta Garbo's personality which "makes" this film, which fills the mould of the neat respectful adaptation with some sense of the greatness in the novel.

Jun 13, 2018

Full Review

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Steve D

The story never did much for me but the acting is strong.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/30/23

Full Review

Elvis D

Una historia de romance y tragedia que muestra lo duro que era para una mujer vivir en una época donde debe escoger entre su familia o su amante, aunque eso pudiera arruinar su reputación. Es un relato sobre como Ana tiene que enfrentar la realidad de aquel entonces en que no estaba bien visto que una mujer con esposo e hijos tenga una amante y más aún cuando dicho amante pone su deber por encima de su amada, al igual que el esposo de Ana. Todo un drama que lleva a Ana a un trágico final. Una película bastante simple, pero con una buena historia. Mi calificación para esta película es un 8/10.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

For a film that tries to pack a 900 page novel into 95 minutes, Clarence Brown's rendition of Tolstoy's masterpiece is quite impressive. Naturally, there are aspects of the story that are forced aside- too little time is spent on the relationship between Kitty and Levin (who was a self-portrait of Tolstoy)- but Brown manages to portray the affair between Anna and Vronsky with plenty of depth and emotion. Greta Garbo, one of the greatest actresses of the 30's, is stunning in the lead. Frederic March is a little flat as Vronsky, dressed in his military uniform in almost every scene, but manages to do well with the character nonetheless. Basil Rathbone's usual grimness suits Karenin perfectly. The production design is spectacular. Brown directs his cast so that they always stand out from the scenery, clearly visible amidst the decadence and imperial settings. The ballroom scenes, where characters dance gracefully while exchanging crucial dialogue, particularly impressed me. A delight for Garbo fans, as well as anyone who likes costume pieces or literary adaptations.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best romance movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

ashley h

Anna Karenina is an amazing film. It is about married Anna Karenina who falls in love with Count Vronsky despite her husband's refusal to grant a divorce. Greta Garbo and Fredric March give excellent performances. The screenplay is well written. Clarence Brown did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama and romance. Anna Karenina is a must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

martin.hillstad@gmail.com

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

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Clarence Brown

Director

Greta Garbo

Anna Karenina

Fredric March

Vronsky

Basil Rathbone

Karenin

Freddie Bartholomew

Sergei

Maureen O'Sullivan

Kitty

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Synopsis

This 19th-century period piece is an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel. On a trip to St. Petersburg, Anna Karenina (Greta Garbo), neglected wife of the famed Alexei Alexandrovitch Karenin (Basil Rathbone), meets a handsome military officer, Count Vronsky (Freddie Bartholomew). Vronsky becomes enamored of Anna and follows her back to Moscow to confess his feelings. Will she follow her heart to be with him, even if it destroys her family and results in public disgrace?

Director: Clarence Brown
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 4, 2008
Runtime: 1h 35m

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