Young Bess

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Young Bess

Original film poster
Directed by George Sidney
Produced by Sidney Franklin
Written by Jan Lustig
Arthur Wimperis

Margaret Irwin (novel)

Starring Jean Simmons
Stewart Granger
Deborah Kerr
Charles Laughton
Music by Miklós Rózsa
Cinematography Charles Rosher
Editing by Ralph E. Winters
Distributed by MGM
Release date(s) Flag of the United States 21 May 1953
Running time 112 min
Country U.S.
Language English
IMDb profile

Young Bess is a 1953 biographical film made by MGM about the early career of Queen Elizabeth I of England, focusing primarily on her romance with Thomas Seymour, uncle of King Edward VI.

The film starred Jean Simmons and Stewart Granger. It was directed by George Sidney and produced by Sidney Franklin, from a screenplay by Jan Lustig and Arthur Wimperis based on the novel by Margaret Irwin.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The film follows the early life of Elizabeth (Jean Simmons), dealing firstly with her distant relationship with her father, Henry VIII (Charles Laughton). When Henry executes her mother Anne Boleyn (Elaine Stewart), Elizabeth's position becomes precarious. She also has to get along with her father's later wives, particularly Catherine Howard (Dawn Addams) and Catherine Parr (Deborah Kerr).

Later, she falls in love with Thomas Seymour (Stewart Granger), but is very wary of his ill-fated ambitions. Seymour is clearly very fond of Bess, but his marriage to Catherine Parr (after Henry's death) precludes a stronger relationship. Thomas' brother Edward, a royal advisor and Lord Protector until Bess' younger brother Edward (Rex Thompson) is old enough to become king, also stands in their way.

[edit] Main cast and characters

Jean Simmons as Princess Elizabeth
Stewart Granger as Thomas Seymour
Deborah Kerr as Catherine Parr
Charles Laughton as Henry VIII

[edit] Other cast members

[edit] External links

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