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.

The first commentary of this great old film has errors of history,.. and the film's characters.The sickly son of Henry VIII is Edward VI and is the brother of Elizabeth. Elizabeth was in love with Thomas Seymour. Arthur was the brother of Henry VIII and was married as a child to Kathrine of Aragon (the daughter of Ferdinan and Isabella of Spain) The marital conflict was that the Roman Catholic law forbid a brother to marry his brother's widow... but the pope waved this rule... but Henry lost interest in the arranged marriage and married Anne Bolyn who was the mother of Elizabeth."Bloody" Mary was the daughter of Henry and Kathrine of Aragon and the half sister of Elixabeth. She came to the throne following the 9 day reign of Lady Jane Grey who was later executed. Elizabeth became queen following the death of Mary.

There really isn't much more that I can add that hasn't been said in previous reviews.Yes,it's historically quite inaccurate with regard to :a.)Tom Seymour's character.b.)The fact that Elizabeth wasn't at all interested in him,romantically.c.)The way Tom Seymour was sent to execution,not at the instigation of his brother,but as a result of his own (failed)machinations.What I found most interesting,however,was the device of having a real-life husband and wife performing the roles of an erotically charged romantic situation.It adds an extra depth,and degree of verisimilitude to what is going on on-screen. Regarding the production,see my comments on "Diane."They apply here equally.

This is an entertaining movie and not a documentary. So, why not show "how it could have happened". This is what makes history interesting and exciting. The story is very well written, the actors are superb. And there is this sparkling chemistry between Jean Simmons, Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr I miss so much in modern movies. This is GOOD OLD HOLLYWOOD (even it is mostly a british movie). I hope that in the near future somebody produces a good DVD!! This movie is one of my all time favorites!!