Young Bess
“A Great and Spectacular Drama!”
Synopsis
The mother died under the executioner's axe; the daughter rose to become England's greatest monarch -- the brilliant and cunning Queen Elizabeth I. Jean Simmons portrays young Bess in this rich tapestry of a film that traces the tumultuous, danger-fraught years from Elizabeth's birth to her unexpected ascension to the throne at a mere 25. Charles Laughton reprises his Academy Award®-winning* role as her formidable father Henry VIII. Deborah Kerr plays her last stepmother (and Henry's last of six wives), gentle Catherine Parr. And Simmons' then real-life husband, Stewart Granger, adds heroics as Lord Admiral Thomas Seymour. In a resplendent world of adventure, romance and court intrigue, Young Bess reigns.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Young Bess - Available Now on DVDOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-07-08
Top Cast
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Jean Simmons
Young Bess (Queen Elizabeth I)
Stewart Granger
Thomas Seymour
Deborah Kerr
Catherine Parr
Charles Laughton
King Henry VIII
Kay Walsh
Mrs. Ashley
Guy Rolfe
Ned Seymour
Kathleen Byron
Ann Seymour
Cecil Kellaway
Mr. Parry
Rex Thompson
Prince Edward / King Edward VI
Robert Arthur
Barnaby
Leo G. Carroll
Mr. Mums
Norma Varden
Lady Tyrwhitt
Alan Napier
Robert Tyrwhitt
Noreen Corcoran
Bess as a child
Ivan Triesault
Danish Envoy
Elaine Stewart
Anne Boleyn
Dawn Addams
Kate Howard
Doris Lloyd
Mother Jack
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 29, 1953
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- George Sidney
- Screenplay & Story
- Arthur Wimperis, Jan Lustig
- Original Score
- Miklós Rózsa
- Original Title
- Young Bess
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
George Sidney
Arthur Wimperis, Jan Lustig, Margaret Irwin
Miklós Rózsa
Charles Rosher
Ralph E. Winters
Sidney Franklin
Department Leadership Roster
George Sidney
Director
Arthur Wimperis
Screenplay
Charles Rosher
Director of Photography
Jan Lustig
Screenplay
Ralph E. Winters
Editor
Walter Plunkett
Costume Design
Miklós Rózsa
Original Music Composer
Sidney Franklin
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Young Bess.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Young Bess
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Young Bess about?
The mother died under the executioner's axe; the daughter rose to become England's greatest monarch -- the brilliant and cunning Queen Elizabeth I. Jean Simmons portrays young Bess in this rich tapestry of a film that traces the tumultuous, danger-fraught years from Elizabeth's birth to her unexpected ascension to the throne at a mere 25. Charles Laughton reprises his Academy Award®-winning* role as her formidable father Henry VIII. Deborah Kerr plays her last stepmother (and Henry's last of six wives), gentle Catherine Parr. And Simmons' then real-life husband, Stewart Granger, adds heroics as Lord Admiral Thomas Seymour. In a resplendent world of adventure, romance and court intrigue, Young Bess reigns.
Who directed Young Bess?
Young Bess was directed by George Sidney.
Who stars in Young Bess?
The principal cast of Young Bess includes Jean Simmons, Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr, Charles Laughton, Kay Walsh.
When was Young Bess released and how long is it?
Young Bess was released in 1953 with a total runtime of 1h 52m.
Who composed the musical score for Young Bess?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Young Bess was composed by Miklós Rózsa.
Is Young Bess based on a book or true story?
Young Bess is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Margaret Irwin".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Young Bess?
Young Bess holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).