When Julien DuVivier’s production of Anna Karenina was released in theatres in 1948 it received less-than-stellar notices, especially concerning its leading lady, Vivien Leigh. Critics called it a “beautiful failure” and said Vivien failed to portray the depth of Anna’s emotional suffering. I cannot compare this film to the Garbo version as I have not seen it, but I can compare it to Leo Tolstoy’s novel–having read it–and I personally think Vivien did a wonderful job portraying Anna.
Consider this:
The best part of the novel, and the focus in the film, is Anna’s adulterous love affair with count Vronsky. Our Vronsky was miscast Irish newcomer Keiron Moore, also known as that drunk guy from Disney’s Darby O’Gill and the Little People. He apparently didn’t think much of Vivien as an actress or a person, but she clearly out-acted him in this film. In fact, Martin Stockham, author of The Korda Collection, mentions that Moore’s acting ability was overwhelmed by that of Vivien and co-star Ralph Richardson who played Karenin. Vivien and Keiron had terrible on-screen chemistry, which is an obstacle in itself that must have been hard to overcome.
Stockham also notes that Vivien had very much wanted Laurence Olivier to play Vronsky, but Larry was unavailable on account of filming Hamlet.
Leigh missed having the strength of Olivier to play opposite her. She was also finding it difficult to avoid comparing her own personal life with that of Anna in the film, a situation that caused a severe bout of depression during filming.
Whether Vivien’s depression was due to her comparison with the fictional heroine or simply a bipolar mood swing is probably debatable, but Vivien’s real life pathos greatly contributes to her performance as Anna. Anna is a tragic character; Vivien was a rather tragic person, and it is to her credit as a performer that she played the dramatic and tense scenes in which she goes head to head with Ralph Richardson with subtlety and elegance, where it could have easily been over the top.
Anna Karenina does not feature highly on my list of favorite films, but I do think it’s one of Vivien Leigh’s better roles. I would recommend it for Vivien’s performance (and Ralph Richardson…and Cecil Beaton’s costumes, which are absolutely heavenly).
Kendra,
This is a wonderful blog post about Vivien’s performance in Anna Karenina. The one thing I thought the first time I saw this film, which was only 2 or 3 years ago, was that this was a really different performance from Vivien. I mean that in a good way. She never goes over the top. She brings a more intuitive dramatic feel to this film and it is a beautiful performance.
I’ve read very little about this film and her performance and most of what I’ve read has basically said “she’s no Greta Garbo.” So, thank you for writing about it and giving us some background on it.
You’re very welcome, and I agree, she did give a beautiful performance. I think her depression at the time probably helped her achieve that air of sadness needed for Anna. I don’t think it’s a bad film on the whole (in fact, I think it’s one of her better films–beggars can’t be choosers, after all). It could have been better, especially in the casting of Vronsky, but I think Vivien clearly stood out.
I’ve never actually seen it, but my soon-to-be wife (three months and two weeks to go!) would agree with you: she loves Garbo’s Anna (and Sophie Marceau’s) but Vivien’s is her certain favourite. She won’t hear a word said against the performance or the film.
Oh I bet Sophie Marceau did a wonderful job. I loved her in Braveheart. Yes, I think Vivien did a very good job in this film, and as she didn’t make many films, I think AK ranks among the better ones in her resume 🙂
I don’t agree with some critics
who said Vivien Leigh failed to portray Anna’s suffering in the film. I think she did it very well and Anna’s dilemma regarding her lover and her husband etc. I agree with Olivier in the film about his life Laurence Olivier a life the programme with Melvin Bragg. Olivier was right some of the critics couldn’t accept that Vivien Leigh had talent and beauty you either had one or the other. And I don’t agree either as some critics said olivier scaled down his acting talent to make Vivien Leigh look better on the stage. She was a good actress in her own right.