YOUNG BESS
US, 1953, 112 minutes, Colour.
Jean Simmons, Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr, Charles Laughton, Kay Walsh, Guy Rolfe, Kathleen Byron, Cecil Kellaway, Elaine Stewart, Dawn Addams, Leo G. Carroll.
Directed by George Sidney.
Young Bess was one of the best costume dramas made by MGM in the early fifties, the Days of Ivanhoe and Quo Vadis. It drew on a large English cast most of whom had moved from England to America: Stewart Granger, Jean Simmons, Deborah Kerr. These players appeared in quite a number of MGM films at the time, e.g. The Prisoner Of Zenda, King Solomon's Mines. The film is an imaginative re-creation of the early years of Princess
Elizabeth before her accession to the throne. The period is that of Henry VIII, played once again by Charles Laughton reprising his Oscar-winning role in The Private Life Of Henry VIII, by Deborah Kerr as Catherine Parr and the Seymour family is prominent. The film works on a light historical level, beautifully re-created, enjoyably acted and throwing some light, albeit romantic on the period.
1. What are audience expectations of historical spectaculars? The basic enjoyment. interest in historical people, attractiveness of spectacle, the contrast of different times, the issues of the time, comparisons with the present? Which were evident here?
2. Audience presuppositions about Henry VIII and Elizabethan times? The patriotic overtones, political questions. religious questions?
3. The flashback structure of the film? Mrs Ashley's memories? The importance of style: sets, colour, music, Elizabethan atmosphere, the use of popular stars?
4. How did the film focus on Bess: Jean Simmons' performance, presented as Henry's daughter, imitating his style even to stance and shouting, the impact of her exile, the memory of her mother. the continued risk to life, the quality of her relationship with Edward and their dependence on each other, Katherine Howard's death, the support of Katherine Parr, the support of the Seymour’s, Tom Seymour's affection, her growth in love of him?
5. How did the film say that Elizabeth grew: the hurt, the protectiveness of the Seymours, the influence of Seymour's love for Katherine Parr, the memory of her affection. her becoming Queen?
6. The film's implication about the nature of ruling. power, loneliness, one's life not being one's own?
7. How interesting were the Seymours? Ned Seymour and his power plots, sinister style, his wife and her spreading of rumours? The contrast with Tom Seymour and his straightforwardness, his achievement, being victimized?
8. The relationship between Catherine Parr and Henry VIII? Henry in his old age, blustering, decaying, his sense of achievement, the importance of the death sequence? Catherine Parr as humane with her support? Her devotion to Tom? Her mothering and helping of Elizabeth? Elizabeth's hurt in Katherine Parr's regard? Her death?
9. The portrayal of Edward? Edward as a boy in such a Court, dependence on Elizabeth, a 'puppet' king of the Seymours, overpowered by the situation?
10.The importance of the small details of Elizabeth's life. e.g. her lessons. maids. relationship with Mrs. Ashley. stay in the Tower,, the minor characters around the Court?
11.The film tampered with the historical facts. Does this matter? what image of history does this kind of film communicate to its audience?
