YOUNG BESS

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Rated:

When I read the back of this title in the library, I thought it was going to turn out to be absolute rubbish simply because it romanticized the relationship between Elizabeth Tudor and Thomas Seymour. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is accurate in at least some of its most important details, and not only that, but also provides one of the best depictions of young King Edward that has ever been presented on screen. It's not perfect in every detail, but it is engaging enough to make most audiences (and fans of the time period) sit up and pay attention.

It is on the eve of Queen Mary's death, and the servants in the household of Elizabeth Tudor (Jean Simmons) await the proclamation that their kindly mistress has become queen. Over glasses of brandy, they share the memories that brought them to this moment. It all began with Anne Boleyn, whose infectious laughter and flirtations won the favor of King Henry VIII (Charles Laughton), but those charms could not save her from the block. Young "Bess" as they called her daughter, was passed from household to household, and no sooner would she fall in love with one of her father's wives, Henry would terminate the marriage. The most recent of his conquests is the sweet-tempered Catherine Parr (Deborah Kerr). She and Bess become instant friends, a relationship that is threatened when Henry becomes riled at Catherine's increasingly Protestant remarks.

While Bess does everything in her power to prevent her favorite queen from losing her head, she gives her heart to the heroic Thomas Seymour (Stewart Granger), the admiral of the seas and whose older brother has a strong grip on the king's household. With the death of her father, Bess is no longer afraid for Catharine, but is devastated to learn that her beloved has intentions of marrying her stepmother. Adoring them both too much to make trouble, she becomes a quiet member of their household, forced to watch as Thomas woos and flirts with his wife, while all the time she possesses a secret and strong passion for him that does not long go unnoticed by her betters. Then too comes her protection of her younger brother, King Edward (Rex Thompson), who is being sorely used by his powerful advisors.

Much of the history involved in this production is spot on at first glance: Catherine Parr was in danger of losing her head for her vocal opinions, and Elizabeth really did have some involvement with Thomas Seymour. The pompous eleven year old Edward was quite impressionable. But history is a little more scandalous. The film leads us to believe Thomas Seymour's intentions were nothing but honorable when it came to Elizabeth, when in reality he scandalized her reputation with overt sexual advances and abuses that left deep emotional scars in their wake. That being said, the film is not at all bad. The costuming is beautiful and while some of the scenes are a little preposterous (Bess would have never sassed her father, under any circumstances), the beautiful performances more than make up for it. Particularly heartbreaking is Kerr as the unfortunate Catherine.

There is not much content to speak of except in verbal references to love affairs. Bess is accused several times of having Thomas as a "lover." She shares two passionate kisses with him while he is still married to Catherine. There is some flirtation between a man and wife. Various individuals are beheaded, and we are shown them being lead to the block, but nothing after that fact. There are a couple of courtyard scuffles. Protestantism is present but never overly addressed save as how much of a danger it is for the queen to be so open with her newfound faith. I doubted Jean Simmons at first, but she was tremendous. Nothing, however, holds a candle to Thompson as Edward. He is both adorable and commanding in his boyish but regal demeanor. It does tend to run a bit on the long side, but i quite worth a watch.