The Virgin Queen ( Young Bess ) is an American film directed by George Sidney released in 1953 .
Synopsis
In 1558, Elizabeth I re became Queen of England . M me Ashley, her governess and Mr. Parry, his steward, remember the joys and sorrows that marked his youth …
In 1536, Henry VIII had his wife Anne Boleyn executed and dismissed his daughter Elisabeth, nicknamed Bess, from the royal court . After having married three times, Henri marries Catherine Parr , new queen to whom Bess, returned to grace, finds sympathy and support. Strong personality, Bess affirms and surprises his father. She falls in love with Thomas Seymour , admiral of the English fleet and trusted man of the king. The old king Henry VIII dies and it is his young son Edward who succeeds him under a council of regency directed by Ned Seymour , brother of Thomas. But Ned Seymour and his wife are intriguers.
Bess, who hopes to become queen one day to reorganize and assert the power of England, is violently opposed to Thomas to the despotism of Ned Seymour. She later discovered the affair of Thomas and Catherine Parr, but despite that, she favors their marriage. Thomas will prove to Bess that he loves her as much as Catherine. Very dedicated to his wife, he devotes himself entirely to her, but she dies shortly afterwards in childbirth.
Later, Bess sees Thomas again, still in love with her, but Ned Seymour has his brother sentenced to death for treason . Despite Bess’s determination to save Thomas, he will be executed. The future Queen of England, hardened by the trials, will be ready, when the time comes, to provoke and face her destiny.
Technical sheet
- Title: The Virgin Queen
- Original title: Young Bess
- Director: George Sidney
- Scenario: Jan Lustig and Arthur Wimperis based on Margaret Irwin’s novel
- Production: Sidney Franklin
- Production company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Music: Miklós Rózsa
- Photography: Charles Rosher
- Editing: Ralph E. Winters
- Sets: Cedric Gibbons and Urie McCleary
- Costumes: Walter Plunkett
- Country of origin: United States
- Language: English
- Format: Colors ( Technicolor )
- Genre: Historical Movie
- Duration: 112 minutes
- Release date: United States :
Distribution
- Jean Simmons (VF: Arlette Thomas ) : Young Bess ( Elizabeth I re England )
- Stewart Granger (VF: Roland Menard ) : Thomas Seymour
- Deborah Kerr (VF: Jacqueline Porel ) : Catherine Parr
- Charles Laughton (VF: Jean Marchat ) : King Henry VIII
- Kay Walsh : M me Ashley
- Guy Rolfe (VF: Jean Martinelli ) : Ned Seymour
- Kathleen Byron (VF: Denise Bosc ) : Jeanne Seymour
- Cecil Kellaway (VF: Émile Duard ) : Mr. Parry
- Rex Thompson : The young King Edward VI of England
- Robert Arthur : The page Barnabas
- Leo G. Carroll : Mr. Mums, the preceptor
- Elaine Stewart : Anne Boleyn
- Dawn Addams : Kate Howard
- Ivan Triesault
- Doris Lloyd : Mother Jack
- Lumsden Hare : Archpriest Cranmer