Anna Karenina

I had not been very keen to see this version of Anna Karenina, for I have, after all, seen the 'real' version with Greta Garbo, and besides, praise for this version was rather thin on the ground in both Halliwell's and Maltin's film guides. True enough, the film was not masterly, but it was worth watching on a hungover Sunday - and the story entertained once again.

Vivien Leigh is Anna Karenina, who is neglected by her husband, the statesman Karenin, so women today can hardly blame her for falling for the young and sought-after officer Count Vronsky. He courts her from the moment he first lays eyes on her, so what is the poor woman to do? Anna loses everything because of her love for Vronsky, and in the end she commits suicide so that he can marry and resume his career. No, I did not cry.