BBC’s lavish, definitive version of Leo Tolstoy’s masterpiece, ANNA KARENINA, arrives on DVD on July 1, 2014 from Acorn, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand. Unspooling over 10 luxurious episodes, this Emmy® nominee for Outstanding Limited Series covers all the story lines and characters with the depth and richness that Tolstoy’s flawless tome deserves. The novel has been adapted many times for film and television, but never with such care and attention to detail as this one, which first aired on PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre in 1977 and has been a fan favorite ever since ($59.99, AcornOnline.com).
Set in Imperial Russia in the 1870s, this is an epic tale of passion, betrayal, society, and the search for happiness.
Nicola Pagett (Upstairs, Downstairs) stars as Anna—young, beautiful, and trapped in a loveless marriage to the high-minded, much older Karenin (Eric Porter,
The Jewel in the Crown). When she meets debonair cavalry officer Count Vronsky (Stuart Wilson,
Prime Suspect, The Age of Innocence) on a Moscow train platform, she can’t resist looking back and sealing her fate.
Street Date: July 1, 2014
SRP: $59.99
DVD 3-Disc Set: 10 episodes on 3 discs • approx. 539 min. • SDH subtitles • UPC 0-54961-2257-9-8
My Thoughts
Originally released in 1977, this Emmy-nominated mini-series is a stunning adaption of the novel by Leo Tolstoy. The film is set in Imperial Russia in the 1870s and centers around Anna Karenina, who feels trapped in her marriage to a much older man. When she meets a handsome, young officer, she can't stop herself from falling in love. Anna succumbs to her feelings, and when they are discovered, she originally faces her husband's rage. In one very emotional scene, he flings the pregnant Anna into a chair. Later, driven by guilt after her husband shows sincere forgiveness, feeling like she may have lost both her husband and her lover when her officer starts to show less interest, she eventually takes her own life.
There are ten episodes in the series, which allows them to stay pretty true to the novel. Both the costumes and the scenery are beautifully depicted and the actors are outstanding. I was especially impressed with Nicola Pagett, who even when she isn't speaking, manages to convey such sincere emotion with her beautiful eyes. If you are a fan of the book or historical films, this is one mini-series you don't want to miss!
If you would like to pick up a copy of this outstanding DVD for yourself, you can find it on Acorn Media or on Amazon.
5 comments:
This sounds like a great read! So intriguing and emotional!
That's good that it stays close to the novel. I hate when they make movies, and they are just so different.
I like the sound of the book. I like the story and like that their is a movie to compare it to. This makes it more interesting. I have not heard of it before. Thanks for sharing.
oh my list of books id like to read
This sounds so familiar...I am wondering if I have seen it. I love this type of movie / series and I love Masterpiece Theater! This would be a great birthday gift for me!
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