Very disappointing...

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Just perfect...

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

That 'Young Bess' is based on one of the most fascinating periods in history and that it had a lot of talent involved are reasons enough to watch it.Once you get past the fact, if you can, that the events in 'Young Bess' are heavily fictionalised and romanticized, it really does charm and entertain (or at least to this reviewer it did). Historians will despair at the number of liberties taken with the facts, as there is a complete disregard with them to the extent that history is literally rewritten, but taken on its own terms as a film 'Young Bess' does have quite a lot to like. Sure, there are flaws. The dialogue occasionally rambles and the character of Catherine Parr in terms of writing is underdeveloped and underused. And it did feel like it could have been 10 minutes longer to give more completeness to the story and make it clear(er) what happened to the characters for anybody who don't have knowledge of Elizabeth's early life, because it did seem a touch incomplete at the end (those who are not so familiar with this period of history especially will find this so). Otherwise, 'Young Bess' has more strengths than it has flaws. As with many films from the 50s it looks fantastic , with lavish and meticulously evocative costumes and sets and sumptuous and rich in colour cinematography. Miklos Rosza's score is stirringly orchestrated, melodically opulent, emotion-filled, really resonates with the soul and fits beautifully without ever getting intrusive or repetitive. Apart from the odd rambling spot the script is written with wit and grace, the story is without a dull stretch and is told with poignancy and charm (it helps that the chemistry between Jean Simmons and Stewart Granger, married at the time, is full of emotion without being heavy-handed) and George Sidney's direction is assured and meticulous, ensuring that the film never dissolves into unintentional cam p or cheesiness like it could easily have done in lesser hands. Jean Simmons plays Elizabeth with plenty of spirit and passion, not descending into the trap of being overwrought, while Stewart Granger conveys Seymour's tragedy (in this film that is) in a way that's moving and never wooden. Their chemistry is very genuine and doesn't ever make the film sink into overwrought melodrama, and they are very well supported by Guy Rolfe's conniving Edward Ned, Deborah Kerr's compassionate Catherine, Rex Thompson's stately and remarkably mature Prince Edward and particularly Charles Laughton's ideally cast Henry (a welcome reprisal from his performance, one of his best ever, in 'The Private Life of Henry VIII'). Smaller roles are solidly taken by a dignified Kay Walsh, charming Dawn Addams, jovial Cecil Kelloway and authoritative Leo G. Carroll.In conclusion, very charming and entertaining on its own merits (which I've always found a much fairer way to judge), but if you're wanting historical accuracy look elsewhere. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox

Costume epics are not my favorite genre. From the days of my youth and thrice re-watched, young Bess remains one of the significant exceptions to this rule. Jean Simmons gives one of her best-ever screen performances and that says quite a bit. The costumes, music, editing and supporting cast are all topnotch. The resiliency of spirit of the orphan-of-the-throne as-it-were is shown brilliantly as told through the eyes of Kay Walsh as Mrs. Ashley and Cecil Kellaway as Mr. Parry. Leo G. Carroll is also memorable as the stodgy Mr. Mums. If I were young Bess, Stewart Granger as the swashbuckling Thomas Seymour would have swept me off my feet as well. I doubt, however, that I would have been able to find the backbone that Ms. Simmons had to cut her ties to him. Then, the way the actress portrays the distanced heir's determination to be a good step-sister but always self-aware, was truly magnificent. Although the events are told in "and then" episodic fashion, the movie is edited smartly enough and moves well enough that it avoids feeling episodic. To this day, Young Bess remains one of my favorite costume dramas of all time.

"Young Bess" features three of the greatest English actors of all time :Jean Simmons,Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr;the two actresses had already teamed up for "black narcissus" but in "young Bess" it's Simmons who plays the lead .The movie does not really show it,but Elizabeth had a very harsh childhood ,unlike Mary Stuart ,her dear cousin who spent her youth in the sweet Chateaux de La Loire in France .That may explain why Elizabeth was prepared to reign and Mary failed dismally. It was a wonder she kept her head after all those years with Mary Tudor.But Jean Simmons succeeds in her performance:from a romantic young girl to the strong queen (the big shadow on the wall is revealing),she runs the whole gamut and she gets strong support from Stewart Granger as her dashing attentive escort ,from Deborah Kerr ,in an underwritten part, and from Charles Laughton,ideally cast as Henry the Eighth.

When I get the chance to view some films from the 1950's, I usually enjoy the great veteran actors and the film story. This film is great because of the great actors like Jean Simmons, (Young Bess/Queen Elizabeth l),"Winter Solstice",'03 TV, who plays a very dramatic role and tries to follow in her fathers footsteps, Charles Laughton,(King Henry VIII),"Advise & Consent",'62, who gives a rather brief performance, but outstanding. Stewart Granger,(Thomas Seymour), plays an Admiral of the English Fleet and is simply adored by Young Bess, who really has the red hots for him since she was a child. Deborah Kerr,(Catherine Parr),"The Arrangement",'61, gets her claws into Thomas Seymour and simply will not let go and there is a bad relation between Catherine and Young Bess. While this film was being produced, Jean Simmons was married in real life to Stewart Granger, and I can see why their kisses appeared so very real and warm. Good Classic film, but rather slow and boring in places.