Customer Reviews

Anna Karenina (1977) - The Complete Miniseries

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I hadn't seen this series for many years when the DVD from Amazon arrived a few days ago. The series was done in 1978 and stars Nicola Pagett of Upstairs Downstairs fame. Seeing it again I am amazed at the accuracy of the presentation and the acting. If you are lucky enough to have this DVD series you will be seeing the best depiction of Russia in the last years of the reign of Alexander II. The interiors, the mode of life and even the way the actors speak is as close as anything has come to the times. The uniforms are incredible because they had a special consultant who made sure they were right; when Vronsky appears wearing the uniform of the Preobrajensky Regiment he has the right one - even down to one appropriate to the time of day and season. I have to say that Stuart Wilson does an amazing job as Vronsky - no one has come within a hundred miles of his presentation of the role. Nicola Pagett is Anna reincarnated, her suicidal descent into darkness and death is almost unbearable to watch. This is a must have DVD for anyone who loves Tolstoy's book and Imperial Russia, get it today. This is a 100%+ review on a great series. Thank you to Time Life Video for bring it back. Let's hope "By The Sword Divided" is next....

I must have watched a different mini-series from the reviewer before me, because I enjoyed this Anna Karenina immensely - so much so that I came here to buy it after watching it via renting it. Nicola Pagett, Eric Porter, and Stuart Wilson were perfectly cast. Nicola as Anna was tremendously touching and vivid in the role of Anna and Stuart as Vronsky was every bit the selfish playboy, caught up and surprised by a love affair that destroys so many lives. Eric Porter as Karenin is perfect, rigid on the outside with a veritable volcano of emotions boiling within.


Yes, the production values leave a lot to be desired, but you have to take into account this was a television show filmed in the 70s. The color of the characters, and the strength of the cast, and the perfect dialogue and almost-perfect rendering of one of the greatest novels of all time makes up for the disappointing sets.


I love this mini-series. If you enjoy acting of the highest order and a perfect ensemble cast, then you will enjoy this Anna Karenina.

Over twenty years ago, American TV viewers were treated to five outstanding dramatizations -- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Guinness), Crime and Punishment (John Hurt), The Mayor of Casterbridge (Bates), Anna Karenina (the present miniseries with Padgett and Porter), and Our Mutual Friend, with Leo McKern (star of Rumpole of the Bailey) as Noddy Boffin, and Jane Seymour as Bella Wilfer. Much to my delight, these series have been appearing as videocassettes or DVDs -- except (so far) for Our Mutual Friend. One to go! I do hope it becomes available soon. Surely Ms. Seymour's fans and Mr. McKern's would support that.

This Anna Karenina series is excellent. While there is no substitute for reading -- and rereading -- Tolstoy's astonishing novel, this miniseries stays close not only to Tolstoy's characterizations and plot, but to the book's tone. We are engrossed in the story and in these people's lives, and yet neither Tolstoy nor the TV adaptation attempt to make us "lose ourselves." We are thinking, assessing, questioning. The TV serial, interestingly, eschews soundtrack (aside from opening titles and playout) and tricks of camera angles and lighting. The performers rose to the challenge of carrying the series with integrity.

Anna Karenina was one of television's finest offerings. I've waited for years to see it again!

I re-read Anna Karenina every 3 years. So, I love the novel and resent any changes that have been made to the many versions of film. This is the best and closest to the novel. The spiritual change that comes over Karenin when Anna lies close to death is an important scene, Tolstoy would certainly spin in his grave if he knew it was left out of most versions!! It is in this version.

The actor who plays Vronsky is superb. The sets are lovely. Nicola Pagett plays Anna with a high strung nerviness that is critical to the character. What a beautiful and talented woman. And the portrayal of Karenin is marvelous...we see the man with his faults, but are also hoping things can be resolved...he deserves this, poor man.

Levin's hopes and frustrations with his peasants and farming were also meant to convey something...Tolstoy included these chapters and thankfully we can see what presaged the Russian Revolution. Important!

Alas, many of these things are left out or treated one dimensionally by other film versions. As if an audience is only interested in love stories. Cut to the chase. etc. Thankfully, the commercial decision makers that control "entertainment" in the USA did not have a pudgy finger in this movie. It shows too!

I could not have been more pleased with the accuracy of this mini-series as it links to the original literary work. The story is fluid, well-told, well-acted and the casting is spot-on. Even though the indoor shots are a bit soap-opera-ie (a new word?), the cinematography of the outdoor scenes really blew me away -- great film production work! If you're too lazy to read Anna Karenina, not to worry! Just watch this mini-series and you can speak on the original book with great authority. Be prepared for the extreme length of the DVDs but, for me, every moment was priceless. If I have a criticism, it is that the supposed Russians of this film all have British accents -- but one can't have everything. A rare insight into human nature and into 19th Century Russian Nobility and Serf culture as well. A wonderful mini-series.

my favorite greta garbo performance has always been her 'anna karenina' from 1935. amazing, and typical of la garbo's many characterizations of women walking through the FIRES OF HELL for love. such grand passion. i love this film, but i've also realized that this MGM production is an EXTREMELY streamlined version of tolstoy's epic novel, so i have always kept on a lookout for a more full-bodied version of 'anna' for comparison.

i've seen vivien leigh's 1948 version, jacqueline bisset's 1985 3 hour tv version, the 4 hour bbc miniseries from 2000, and even sophie marceau's 1997 film version....but somehow when watching these different versions i could not connect to or have any sympathy for the character of 'anna'....even though all of the actresses in these versions were first rate.

i finally came to the conclusion that it was not really the actresses' fault, it was in the writing itself ...a two-hour film or four-hour miniseries is not enough time to be faithful to the COMPLETE tolstoy novel or to develop the characters deeply enough.

the anna that recovers from her near-deadly illness changes so quickly and is such a different woman in the latter half of the story...unbalanced, highly delusional. gone is garbo's sublime descent into madness... no film has replicated it ... and also, the dramatic arc of the storyline itself seems off to me somehow.

however, when i became aware of this 1977 bbc miniseries of 'anna karenina' i immediately bought it sight unseen!

the 1970's bbc television adaptions of history and literary works are just unequalled in terms of its peerless writing and exceptional acting, sheer greatness... to me, it was really another 'golden age' of television back then, just as the american cinema of the 1970's is considered a great 'golden age' for film.

ELIZABETH R, SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII, I,CLAUDIUS, UPSTAIRS,DOWNSTAIRS, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, LILLIE, THE CHARMER, EDWARD AND MRS. SIMPSON and so forth...i could go on and on. i have made up my mind to collect as many of these programs as possible on dvd.

this version of 'anna karenina' does not disappoint. at nearly 10 HOURS, 'anna' is a rich tapestry of incredible, intricate writing, and the characterizations are spot on... every twist and turn of anna's psyche is well explored, so now, as she slowly makes her way to her final fate, each action makes perfect sense to me.... the acting itself is stunning....nicola pagett (electrifying!) as anna, eric porter as karenin, and stuart wilson as vronsky each give sterling, bravura performances... in every episode there is at least one passage of jaw-dropping acting from these three.... this time, i really felt for the plight of EACH of these characters.

and for those who might think the production itself looks cheesy, i would say: just shift your focus...these programs should not be compared to modern films.... think of each of these bbc productions from that peroid as A PLAY STAGED FOR TELEVISION....relax, and immerse yourself in the excellent acting and superlative writing. a gratifying experience.

I didn't read the book yet. So I can't make a comparison.

But that said, the movie may be 10 hours, but it is NEVER boring.

It's basically this. Anna Karenina (who is married with one son) goes to her brother's house to see if she can save his broken marriage with Dolly. While she is there, she manages to save her brother's marriage. But soon afterwards, she (without meaning to do so) breaks Kitty's (Dolly's sister) engagement to Vronsky, because Vronsky finds Anna attractive.

We then meet Anna's husband. He is nice enough, but we can see that he is more like a kind father to Anna than a husband. Though if we look at the whole picture, we can see that Anna really has it well. (Beautiful house, clothes, servants, a kind intelligent older husband, a son who adores her, and a fine reputation.)

To make a long movie short, Anna decides that after feeling loved passionately by Vronsky, she is unhappy with her life. Interestingly, her husband (rather than being typically jealous) warns her of consequences if she carries out this affair. And even after she has a child with Vronsky, he is still willing to forgive her. In my opinion, this limits the sympathy we can have for Anna when she constantly refuses her husband's gift of forgiveness. (To say nothing of the fact that while he was hurt, he does NOT want to leave her to the mercy of an affair that may or may not last.)

Moving quickly, she has a brief moment of happiness with Vronsky, but she soon finds out that in taking this relationship with Vronsky, she has lost her son, not to mention her reputation. And while we want to feel sorry for her, we can't deny that (1) her husband warned her, and (2) she did it to herself.

But whether we are on Anna's side or the side of her husband, the movie is phenomenal in the tragic puzzle that comes together so logically.

It is worth noting that while the movie does not mention it, Anna may very well be bipolar. She reacts to reason with cruelty first to her husband, and later to Vronsky. While Vronsky was not so likable in the first 9/10 of the movie, we start to feel some sympathy for him in the last 10th when he can't even talk to Anna without her reacting with cruelty.

It is not long before her relationship with Vronsky deteriorates. (She can't even sleep OR JUST BE WITH the man she threw everything away for, and she finds herself in a worse position than she has ever been in with no visible exit. (Or perhaps, just one.)

Perhaps the moral of this story is that in striving for ALL, we can LOSE the great things that we DID have.

I could go on and on about the scenery, the supporting characters, etc. But then this review would be way too long.

I'll just say that even though this film is 10 hours, it is NEVER boring. A fine Russian masterpiece!

It was very enjoyable and extremely well done. Much better than many other versions of Anna Karenina Hollywood films or some plays I saw on stage. A real classic to have in one's collection.

After reading Anna Karenina I wanted to check out some of the film adaptations, so I bought this. I personally liked it, the production does kind of feel like a soap opera in a way. But 10 episodes gives them time to develop the characters nicely. If you like the book, give it a go....and keep me updated!

I loved this BBC series when it first appeared in 1977. Perfect casting, magnificent acting and true to the spirit of Tolstoy's novel. The only disappointment with the 2004 WEA DVD that I bought was the faded colours. Nicola Paget's unforgettably blue eyes were washed out and the staginess of the sets showed through without intensity of colour to camoflage shortcomings. This series is too good to be deprived a remastering. Neverthelss, I'd recommend the DVD highly as it's the best adaptation made so far.