Why Greta Garbo’s 1935 portrayal of Anna Karenina remains a cinematic touchstone
In short: Greta Garbo’s second attempt at playing Tolstoy’s tragic heroine transformed a literary classic into a triumph of screen acting. While her earlier silent version faltered, this 1935 production captured the profound anguish of a woman defying rigid social expectations, securing its place as a definitive, critically acclaimed adaptation.
Directed by Clarence Brown and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1935, this adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s 1878 novel stands as a high-water mark in Greta Garbo’s career. The narrative follows Anna, the wife of a stern Czarist official, whose life unravels after she begins a scandalous affair with Count Vronsky. As she abandons her marriage and son to pursue this liaison, she faces the crushing weight of societal rejection, leading to inevitable ruin.
The film’s success was largely attributed to Garbo’s performance, which critics of the era praised for its dignity, pathos, and emotional depth. Writing for The Spectator, Graham Greene noted that Garbo’s singular personality elevated the production, imbuing the respectful adaptation with the true spirit of the original novel. Her portrayal was so compelling that it overshadowed much of the supporting cast, with the notable exception of Basil Rathbone, who played her husband, Karenin.
This version marked a significant improvement over Garbo’s 1927 silent film, Love, which had been criticized for its unfaithful, happy ending. The 1935 production, by contrast, remained true to the source material’s tragic trajectory. It earned $2,304,000 at the box office and garnered international recognition, including the top prize for foreign films at the Venice Film Festival. Modern audiences continue to hold the film in high regard, as evidenced by its 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Beyond its commercial performance, the film is frequently cited in historical assessments of cinema. The American Film Institute ranked it #42 on its list of the most passionate films in history. While many adaptations of Tolstoy’s work have followed, the 1935 version remains a standard-bearer, largely because of the intense, mature climax delivered by Garbo in the final scenes.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Anna Karenina (1935 film)
- Also: Anna Karenina | Romantic Drama, Leo Tolstoy, Greta Garbo | Britannica
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