Young Bess (1953)

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This costume drama was based on the historical fiction of Margaret Irwin, which embellishes the facts of the early years of England's eventual Queen Elizabeth I. It's told in flashback style, starting with the horrible day when King Henry VIII (Charles Laughton) sends away the future queen, young… More This costume drama was based on the historical fiction of Margaret Irwin, which embellishes the facts of the early years of England's eventual Queen Elizabeth I. It's told in flashback style, starting with the horrible day when King Henry VIII (Charles Laughton) sends away the future queen, young Bess (Jean Simmons), and executes her mother, Anne Boleyn (Elaine Stewart). Some years and several wives later, Henry VIII invites Bess to return to the palace to live with Catherine Parr (Deborah Kerr), her new stepmother. When the king dies, Bess' young half-brother, Edward (Rex Thompson), assumes the title of regent. Bess falls in love with the Navy's top admiral, Thomas Seymour (Stewart Granger), but has her brother compel him to marry Catherine. After Catherine dies, Thomas confesses his love to Bess. But his scheming brother Ned (Guy Rolfe) finds out about Thomas' feelings and accuses him of seducing Bess. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: George Sidney, George Sidney (I)
Written By: Margaret Irwin, Jan Lustig
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: May 29, 1953 Limited
On DVD: Jul 20, 1994

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Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Costumes aplenty here in fine colorful splendour as intrigue stalks the courts of England. The question as always: who's calling the shots here? Simmons and Kerr are ever photogenic and Granger can wear a costume with the best of them. The outcome, though Hollywood-ised, is… More
Costumes aplenty here in fine colorful splendour as intrigue stalks the courts of England. The question as always: who's calling the shots here? Simmons and Kerr are ever photogenic and Granger can wear a costume with the best of them. The outcome, though Hollywood-ised, is history, while the film itself is only mildly amusing.

Cast

            Jean Simmons as Young Bess

            Stewart Granger as Thomas Seymour

            Deborah Kerr as Catherine Parr

            Charles Laughton as Henry VIII

            Kay Walsh as Mrs. Ashley

            Guy Rolfe as Ned Seymour

            Cecil Kellaway as Mr. Parry

            Rex Thompson as Edward

            Robert Arthur as Barnaby

            Leo G Carroll as Mr. Mums

            Norma Varden as Lady Tyrwhitt

            Alan Napier as Robert Tyrwhitt

            Noreen Corcoran as Young Bess Age 6

            Ivan Triesault as Danish Envoy

            Elaine Stewart as Anne Boleyn

            Dawn Addams as Kate Howard

            Doris Lloyd as Mother Jack

            Lumsden Hare as Archbishop Thomas Crammer

            Lester Matthews as Sir William Paget

            Kathleen Byron as Anne Seymour

            Sam Harris
            
            Charles R. Keane as Halberdiers

            Raymond Lawrence
            
            Clive Morgan
            
            Carl Saxe as Executioner

            Reginald Sheffield as Court Recorder

            Ann Tyrrell as Mary

            Patrick Whyte as Officer

            Ian Wolfe as Stranger

            David Cavendish as Council Man

            Frank Eldredge
            
            Fay Wall as Woman

            John Sheffield as English Officers
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