station to station

when you hear a record produced by phil spector, you recognize his sound. in a more subtle way, this is how it is with director clarence brown, the favorite of greta garbo. there is a noticeable charm, a goodness to his films. 

the novel, 'anna karenina' by leo tolstoy is a beloved book. we all can relate to the story which deals with the eternal theme of sacrifice and sadness in the name of love, and clarence brown captured tears as though they were little diamonds.

great garbo plays the unfortunate 'anna', caught in a miserable marriage while truly in love with her young son. she falls in love with count vronsky, a military man, who is willing to sacrifice his career if she would leave her home. 

this story gets us every time. love and it's price will never cease to exist or fascinate. in this 1935 film version, anna's heart, in the hands of the director, seems to break and fall like a heavy fruit off a tree, landing without a sound, as there is no one close enough to hear.