TeenzTen An action-packed slog

Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Robert J. Maxwell Yes, it's about a romantic love conflict during the time Queen Elizabeth I was developing into womanhood, but it's not as bad as some. The costumes are colorful and the acting meets professional standards, in the case of Charles Laughton as Henry VII, rather beyond that. What a slob. I had to memorize all these kings and queens in high school. I remember all of them precisely -- Ethelred the Black, Frederik the Fatuous, Donald the Impotent, and Ivan the Terrible. Maybe I remember them as well as I do because the class was taught by the venomous and ill-favored Miss Chelydra Serpentina, Spinster, she who must be obeyed.I've always kind of liked Jean Simmons, who plays Bess. She's not strikingly beautiful but she was splendid as Ophelia in Olivier's "Hamlet" and perfect as Estella in "Great Expectations." She's also good natured. I watched a location shoot in Echo Park and she played chipper word games with Ed Asner, a monster egotist. Here's Asner, shouting angrily to the director, "All right, let's get this thing going -- or are we only here to amuse the public!", meanwhile staring around and basking in the attention.Stewart Granger is always likable too, handsome, sun tanned, and sporting a reassuring baritone. Unluckily he's cast in the part of the Admiral who loves two women at the same time -- the sassy and independent Jean Simmons, and the delicate and understanding Deborah Kerr. He pays for it, traduced by his own brother.You'll probably enjoy it. It's a commercial entity. There are no scenes of action but not much abject sobbing either. A decent semi-historical love story with impressive wardrobe and production design.

whpratt1 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.

mvfever Never mind about the historical accuracy, the movie is very enjoyable as a great love story. It is well written and elegantly portrayed by a good assemble of actors. Simmons is excellent as Young Bess, a smart and strong minded princess growing from adolescence into young womanhood, falling for a much older heroic Admiral, attracting his love from his beautiful and tender loving wife. Granger is a great match as Simmon's lover, the arrogant adventurous war hero, also the loving husband of the more classical beauty Kerr. The love triangle between the three is convincing and moving, and its tragic end is heart broken.The costume is wonderful, especially of Granger's.

esteban1747 Historical facts are very difficult to draw in films. I think that this material tried to present some features of lives of Elizabeth (Jean Simmons, his father and the members of the council once his father, the cruel King Henry VIII (Charles Laughton), died. The plot went through the love triangle of Bess and Catherine Parr (Deborah Kerr) with Thomas Seymour (Stewart Granger), a man loyal to the King but very much in love with Catherine and then with Elizabeth. It was clear that the council was doing everything possible to keep Elizabeth away from the throne, something that happened at the end of the film suddenly and without much explanation. At least someone like me, not knowing well this story, finished with several questions, whether her brother (the successor to the throne) died?, what happened to Ned Seymour?, the main instigator of the assassination of his brother Tom and the main one avoiding Bess to govern. May be with more complete plot and perhaps time for the film, this story may have looked much better than it is.