Anna Karenina: 2 out of.. ???

One of my favorite films of all time is without a doubt Anna Karenina.. the 2012 version. Don't hate me okay, it was the first one I ever saw. Can you blame me? I'm a sucker for period pieces ; ergo, anything featuring Keira Knightley is immediately streaming on my Netflix. But, as a film lover, I couldn't not watch the older versions as well. The only problem? There are over five versions and only the newer one and the 1948 film are available on watch instantly on Netflix. So, today I took the opportunity to watch the 1948 film and also write a post on my opinion on it as well as the differences among both movies. (By the way, the movie is actually an adaptation of the novel written by Leo Tolstoy, which is on my list of must-reads.)

The novel, in its original Russian.

THE INNER WORKINGS OF ANNA KARENINA IN GENERAL

The overall synopsis of the novel, or in this case, the movie(s) is that a woman, living during the 1800s, experiences the consequences of a scandalous love affair due to the fact that is married.

THE INNER WORKINGS OF ANNA KARENINA - 1948 vs. 2012

Right off the bat, the most noticeable difference is the 1948 version, unlike the 2012 adaptation, is in black and white. This isn't a con of any sorts, unless you aren't a fan of black and white films. Another variation between movies are their lengths. The 1948 version is one hour and 51 minutes long while the 2012 one is two hours and nine minutes long. Once again, nothing major. Both films do amazing jobs with the time they took, especially since the book is definitely not a short read. But, I did notice that certain scenes in the earlier film were shortened, or not even displayed, compared to the modern one. A major contrast with the movies is that you can clearly tell what decade the older one was filmed in:

1. Anna and her husband, Alexei Alexandrovich, sleep in different beds.
2. There are no sex scenes between Count Vronsky and Anna shown. They also only exchange three kisses in the entire movie.

Despite the subtlety of the amorous affair, my absolute favorite thing about the 1948 film is that the connection between the two lovers is perfectly portrayed by actress Vivien Leigh (Anna) and Kieron Moore (Vronsky.) The love is evident just by the look of their eyes when they interlock.

This is a similarity between the two films; the love, the basis of the film, is depicted in such a way that you are also infatuated with the relationship, even if it is "wrong." You are equally filled with warm, yet sorrowful, affection for Anna and her other man. 

Keira Knightley and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the lead roles (2012)

And that is the exact motive of movies: 

To make you feel, though it is not real.

And both films do a pretty good damn job at that. It is now on my bucket list to watch every adaptation of Anna Karenina.. you should do the same!
                                                    {I do not own these pictures}