Jean Simmons is "Young Bess" in this 1953 film directed by George Sidney and also starring Charles Laughton, Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger, and Leo G. Carroll.
The film isn't factual in all parts, but that can be as valuable to students or to anyone as a historically accurate film simply by reading the actual story. I've never understood why people take film as gospel and don't read a little background information. A good deal of the film is factual; where it gets dicey is in the relationship between Thomas Seymour and Bess. Even if the writers wanted to tell the real story, it's dubious it would have made it to the screen thanks to the code.
Bess is rejected by her father Henry and sent away after her mother, Anne Boleyn, is beheaded. Attempts to win the affection of subsequent wives failed, and Bess is not accepted back into the palace until Henry marries Catherine of Parr (Deborah Kerr). When Henry dies, his nine-year-old son Edward VI (Rex Thompson) becomes king.
Lady Jane Seymour's brothers, Thomas and Edward, have both benefited from her time at court; in fact, Thomas' brother Ned is Lord Protector of his nephew, Edward VI. True.
Bess is madly in love with Thomas Seymour (Granger), some years her senior, but he marries her stepmother, Catherine after the death of Henry VIII. Eventually, Bess' strong feelings for Thomas become threatening to Catherine, who does love Bess, and Bess agrees to leave the household. After Catherine's death, Thomas wants to marry Bess and writes to her, but he has enemies, one of whom is his own brother, Edward "Ned" Seymour (Guy Rolfe).
This is an extremely opulent film, very well acted, with good chemistry between the leads, It is very entertaining.
The true story is that we don't really know how Bess felt about Thomas, except late in the game, she was receptive to the idea of marrying him; by then it was too late. In truth, Thomas' behavior toward Elizabeth was inappropriate and he may have even sexually abused her while she was a teenager. When he wanted to marry Bess, his past behavior toward her was revealed (although the interrogators could get nothing out of Bess). This was added to charges of treason and he was beheaded in 1549. Bess, known as The Virgin Queen, never married, though she came close, but some historians feel that Seymour put her off sexual relationships.
Thomas was pretty sharp; he also hedged his bets by making a play for Queen Mary, Elizabeth's half sister, as well.
Recommended.
The film isn't factual in all parts, but that can be as valuable to students or to anyone as a historically accurate film simply by reading the actual story. I've never understood why people take film as gospel and don't read a little background information. A good deal of the film is factual; where it gets dicey is in the relationship between Thomas Seymour and Bess. Even if the writers wanted to tell the real story, it's dubious it would have made it to the screen thanks to the code.
Bess is rejected by her father Henry and sent away after her mother, Anne Boleyn, is beheaded. Attempts to win the affection of subsequent wives failed, and Bess is not accepted back into the palace until Henry marries Catherine of Parr (Deborah Kerr). When Henry dies, his nine-year-old son Edward VI (Rex Thompson) becomes king.
Lady Jane Seymour's brothers, Thomas and Edward, have both benefited from her time at court; in fact, Thomas' brother Ned is Lord Protector of his nephew, Edward VI. True.
Bess is madly in love with Thomas Seymour (Granger), some years her senior, but he marries her stepmother, Catherine after the death of Henry VIII. Eventually, Bess' strong feelings for Thomas become threatening to Catherine, who does love Bess, and Bess agrees to leave the household. After Catherine's death, Thomas wants to marry Bess and writes to her, but he has enemies, one of whom is his own brother, Edward "Ned" Seymour (Guy Rolfe).
This is an extremely opulent film, very well acted, with good chemistry between the leads, It is very entertaining.
The true story is that we don't really know how Bess felt about Thomas, except late in the game, she was receptive to the idea of marrying him; by then it was too late. In truth, Thomas' behavior toward Elizabeth was inappropriate and he may have even sexually abused her while she was a teenager. When he wanted to marry Bess, his past behavior toward her was revealed (although the interrogators could get nothing out of Bess). This was added to charges of treason and he was beheaded in 1549. Bess, known as The Virgin Queen, never married, though she came close, but some historians feel that Seymour put her off sexual relationships.
Thomas was pretty sharp; he also hedged his bets by making a play for Queen Mary, Elizabeth's half sister, as well.
Recommended.