Young Bess

Spotlight on... Royalty on Film

"You dare defy me? Yes, you dare... I'm beginning to like you"

'Young Bess' is the 1953 elaborate costume drama telling the younger years of Queen Elizabeth I, or Young Bess as she was called by her father.

Directed by George Sidney, Jean Simmons plays the virgin Queen, with Charles Laughton reprising his role of Henry VIII (Laughton previously played King Henry in the 1933 film 'The Private Life of Henry VIII'). The film co-stars Deborah Kerr  as Catherine Parr and Stewart Granger as Thomas Seymour.

This first rate cast is supported by Kay Walsh, Guy Rolfe, Cecil Kellaway, Alan Napier, Kathleen Byron, Leo G. Carroll and Dawn Addams.

The film chronicles all the key events from her birth leading to her accession of the throne, including the execution of her mother Anne Boleyn, her exile as a child, her relationship with stepmother Catherine, and the death of her father King Henry VIII.

Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of King Henry VIII (the one who beheaded his 6 wives), and Anne Boleyn, who her father had beheaded when Elizabeth was just two years old. Elizabeth was known as The Virgin Queen, due to her never being married or having children. Despite her inability to bare children, I would question how virginal she really was considering the number of young men she had floating around her palace. She was one of the first powerful female leaders, and was even referred to as "a king in petticoats".

The role of Queen Elizabeth is one of the most sought after roles for an actress to play, having also been played by actresses including Bette Davis, Cate Blanchett, Dame Judi Dench, Glenda Jackson, Agnes Moorehead, Helen Mirren and Vanessa Redgrave, just to name a few.

Concluding remarks

'Young Bess' is an enjoyable and fascinating film to watch, although my favourite biography of Queen Elizabeth I is still The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), starring Bette Davis in one her finest roles.

The Virgin Queen (1955)

Star Birthday - Richard Todd & Spotlight on Royalty on Film

Star Birthday - Richard Todd 

Richard Todd was born on 11 June 1919 in Dublin, Ireland, and began his career on the stage before transitioning to film. Todd died on 3 December 2009 after  a battle with cancer. 

Recommended viewing

• The Hasty Heart (1949)
• Stage Fright (1950)
• The Virgin Queen (1955)
• Saint Joan (1957)

The Virgin Queen (1955)

The Virgin Queen (1955), is the historically inaccurate story of the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Sir. Walter Raleigh. The film stars Bette Davis, Richard Todd and the seductive Joan Collins in an early film role.

This was the second of two films where Bette Davis starred as Queen Elizabeth I - Davis had first played Queen Elizabeth in the more superior film The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), which tells the complicated and furious love affair Queen Elizabeth had with Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. 

The film is notable for being the first American film for Australian actor Rod Taylor.

Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of King Henry VIII (the one who beheaded his 6 wives), and Anne Boleyn, who her father had beheaded when Elizabeth was just two years old. Elizabeth was known as The Virgin Queen, due to her never being married or having children. Despite her inability to bare children, I would question how virginal she really was considering the number of young men she had floating around her palace. She was one of the first powerful female leaders, and is even referred to in the film as "a king in petticoats".

The role of Queen Elizabeth is one of the most sought after roles for an actress to play, having also been played by actresses including Cate Blanchett, Dame Judi Dench, Glenda Jackson, Agnes Moorehead, Jean Simmons,  Helen Mirren and Vanessa Redgrave, just to name a few. Despite being played by such brilliant and celebrated actors, no one in my opinion has played her quite like Bette Davis.  Bette Davis has a natural commanding presence, which presents an assertive, powerful and 

authentic portrayal.

Concluding Remarks

This is an average and watchable film portraying Queen Elizabeth I. I would recommend this film to fans of Bette Davis and Joan Collins, and to those who have an interest in the royal family. For all others, I would strongly recommend watching the much superior The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939).

Spotlight on 'Royalty on Film' throughout June 2012

Laurence Olivier in 'Henry V' (1944)

Some are born great, and some achieve greatness, whereas others have greatness thrust upon them.

Olivia De Havilland & Errol Flynn in
'The Private Lives of Elizabeth & Essex' (1939)

The Student Prince (1954)

2012 is the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth. Considered to be a once in a lifetime event, I thought I would take the opportunity to appreciate some classic films which have a royal theme. 


From Greta Garbo's enchanting performance as Queen Christina of Sweden to both of Bette Davis' portrayals of Queen Elizabeth, I will explore characters of royalty in films from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Princess O'Rourke (1943)

The "royal themed" films I will endeavour to watch throughout June include:

• Queen Christina (1933)
• The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
• Henry V (1944)
• Princess O'Rourke (1943)
• Royal Wedding (1951)
• Young Bess (1953)
• The Student Prince (1954)
• The Virgin Queen (1956)

Be not afraid of greatness, as fliXposed celebrates the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with Spotlight on... Royalty on Film, throughout June 2012.

Young Bess (1953)