Jean Simmons a half a century before Cate Blanchett gives another view of a young Elizabeth Tudor before she became Queen of England. The period covered is roughly the last year of Henry VIII reign until Elizabeth became Queen with an emphasis on the early years of Edward VI. For those of us who remember the regal Elizabeth that Bette Davis and Flora Robson have played this is a reminder Elizabeth was young once herself.
Elizabeth I was one remarkable woman who sacrificed all for her country, including a small measure of personal happiness. Of the many men in her life, part of the story here is that of the first. Her experience with Thomas Seymour taught her well.
Stewart Granger is the bold and reckless Thomas Seymour who made an incredible reach for power. Seymour upon the death of Henry VIII marries his last wife and widow Catherine Parr played by Deborah Kerr to assure a place in court. He then even while Parr is alive romances young Elizabeth who was of course daughter Henry's second queen Anne Boleyn.
Granger and Guy Rolfe as Edward Seymour were the uncles of young Edward VI who was the child of Henry's third queen and their sister Jane Seymour. When Henry died they were his guardians and regents of the minor king. But Tom played for bigger stakes than that, even trying to ace his brother out and assume total power. He paid with his life and later Rolfe is also executed and it all blows up when Edward VI dies and the Catholic Queen Mary the older sister to both Elizabeth and Edward takes over. Through all of this Young Bess treads through a court minefield.
Simmons is remarkable as Young Bess who learns the political and royal arts early on and moves with a cat's caution for her own survival and eventual succession to the throne. The film also offers an early cameo appearance for Charles Laughton to reprise his Oscar winning role of Henry VIII. Even in his last year, Henry VIII is a man very much in control until the second he can't fog a mirror. Then the games begin. Deborah Kerr is touching as the Dowager Queen, confused, compassionate, but ultimately heartbroken.
Best of all is young Rex Thompson as Edward VI. Young Bess offers a rare opportunity to see what happens to Edward, half of the two twin protagonists in Mark Twain's beloved The Prince And The Pauper. It wasn't happily ever after for Edward as king, just a child pawn in a continual struggle for power between rival court factions in the film and in real life. I'm sure the real Edward wished at times he could have changed places with a doppleganger beggar boy for real.
Young Bess got two Oscar nominations for Art&Design and Costume design. It's a lavish production graced with a fine cast and not too inaccurate as history either.
Elizabeth I was one remarkable woman who sacrificed all for her country, including a small measure of personal happiness. Of the many men in her life, part of the story here is that of the first. Her experience with Thomas Seymour taught her well.
Stewart Granger is the bold and reckless Thomas Seymour who made an incredible reach for power. Seymour upon the death of Henry VIII marries his last wife and widow Catherine Parr played by Deborah Kerr to assure a place in court. He then even while Parr is alive romances young Elizabeth who was of course daughter Henry's second queen Anne Boleyn.
Granger and Guy Rolfe as Edward Seymour were the uncles of young Edward VI who was the child of Henry's third queen and their sister Jane Seymour. When Henry died they were his guardians and regents of the minor king. But Tom played for bigger stakes than that, even trying to ace his brother out and assume total power. He paid with his life and later Rolfe is also executed and it all blows up when Edward VI dies and the Catholic Queen Mary the older sister to both Elizabeth and Edward takes over. Through all of this Young Bess treads through a court minefield.
Simmons is remarkable as Young Bess who learns the political and royal arts early on and moves with a cat's caution for her own survival and eventual succession to the throne. The film also offers an early cameo appearance for Charles Laughton to reprise his Oscar winning role of Henry VIII. Even in his last year, Henry VIII is a man very much in control until the second he can't fog a mirror. Then the games begin. Deborah Kerr is touching as the Dowager Queen, confused, compassionate, but ultimately heartbroken.
Best of all is young Rex Thompson as Edward VI. Young Bess offers a rare opportunity to see what happens to Edward, half of the two twin protagonists in Mark Twain's beloved The Prince And The Pauper. It wasn't happily ever after for Edward as king, just a child pawn in a continual struggle for power between rival court factions in the film and in real life. I'm sure the real Edward wished at times he could have changed places with a doppleganger beggar boy for real.
Young Bess got two Oscar nominations for Art&Design and Costume design. It's a lavish production graced with a fine cast and not too inaccurate as history either.