This silent film has the famous lovers John Gilbert and Greta Garbo as Captain Count Alexei Vronsky and Anna Karenina, respectively. The two meet during a blizzard. Anna's carriage is detained because of it, and she has to stay the night in a nearby inn, with her travel there assisted by Count Vronsky. Her face has been covered up because of the blizzard, but once inside the inn she uncovers her face and Vronsky is instantly smitten. Even the maid at the inn feels the chemistry between the two and places Vronsky's and Anna's things in the same room, believing them to be married. There is one impediment to the pair's happiness though - Anna is married to a senator and has a son by him. Any spark that was ever there has gone out of the marriage, but Anna feels a duty to her station in life and above all, her son. Vronsky and Anna keep running into each other at government functions until they can no longer stop themselves, ultimately running off to Italy together. However, Anna has had to leave her son behind at the insistence of her husband, and soon she finds herself missing him. Once back in Russia, Vronsky's superior officer visits Anna and tells her that Vronsky will be thrown out of the service if the affair continues. She agrees to leave him if it will save Vronsky's career. There are two endings that were released with this film - a happy ending in America, and a sad one abroad. Here you are getting the happy ending.
There is only one way to see this film, and that is the Warner Archive DVD-R, and I describe that product here because you might not like what you get. The visual quality of the film is good, even if it is a bit soft looking. However, the deal breaker is probably the soundtrack. The score was recorded at a live performance, and the music chosen is good enough. However, the music was recorded at a college showing of this film. In any audience you would probably hear the occasional coughing in the background. Here, though, you'll hear loud laughter whenever the crowd finds something funny, and they apparently find something funny quite often and at the most inappropriate times, such as the first time Vronsky sees Anna's face and smiles at her. It just ruins the mood of the whole film. The audience was probably filled with teenagers with nothing better to do on this particular night.
I would highly recommend the film, but the score and the "sound effects" will probably leave you feeling taken if you buy the actual Warner Archive product.
There is only one way to see this film, and that is the Warner Archive DVD-R, and I describe that product here because you might not like what you get. The visual quality of the film is good, even if it is a bit soft looking. However, the deal breaker is probably the soundtrack. The score was recorded at a live performance, and the music chosen is good enough. However, the music was recorded at a college showing of this film. In any audience you would probably hear the occasional coughing in the background. Here, though, you'll hear loud laughter whenever the crowd finds something funny, and they apparently find something funny quite often and at the most inappropriate times, such as the first time Vronsky sees Anna's face and smiles at her. It just ruins the mood of the whole film. The audience was probably filled with teenagers with nothing better to do on this particular night.
I would highly recommend the film, but the score and the "sound effects" will probably leave you feeling taken if you buy the actual Warner Archive product.