TV and Movies

[Oznell]

6:00 p.m. Eastern--  "Young Bess"  Jean Simmons, Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger, Charles Laughton, Rex Thompson

Lavish historical drama about young Elizabeth Tudor, before she would ascend the throne as Elizabeth I.  Please see previous alert for details:

https://community.qvc.com/t5/TV-and-Movies/Jean-Simmons-Deborah-Kerr-quot-Young-Bess-quot-TCM-Wednes...

Fun to see the romantic chemistry between real life married couple Jean Simmons and Stewart Granger as "Bess" and British naval big shot, Thomas Seymour.

Also especially interesting to catch Deborah Kerr's performance as Catherine (or Katherine, or "Kateryn", in the wonderfully flexible spelling of the time.) Parr,  Henry VIII's last wife.  So much has emerged about this historically important, scholarly, religiously devout woman, it makes you wish for a film treatment of her own fairly short but crucial and action-packed life.  She had good sense, kind guidance for her royal stepchildren, and was smart and faithful to her beliefs under duress-- fascinating character.

Portrait of Catherine Parr:

True to the grand MGM tradition, the costumes in the film do full justice to the actual gorgeousness depicted above.

[SharkE]

2 actors that I considered 'flat', dull, like Glenn Ford.

[SharkE]

She flubbed up by marrying again under pressure and dying in childbirth.

Too old. Women back then thought they JUST HAVE TO BE MARRIED.

His wife who had the most sense was the gal from Germany. Anne of Cleeves. She kept her head and never married and was know as the Queen's 'sister' after he paid her off and supported her for the rest of her life. It was an amicable 'divorce'. Annulled

[Oznell]

Thanks, @SharkE,  I can never remember which of the other wives (apart from Catherine) was shrewd enough, or lucky enough, to escape Henry's deadly ire!

One thing I read, which supports your contention about Catherine Parr's last marriage, was that although she was normally very smart (she did talk her way out of some kerfuffle with Henry I remember, that could have gone badly for her, but she calmed him down) she had a weakness for rogue-ish gents.  Maybe that explains her falling for Seymour, who sounds like no prize to me...

I might agree with you about Stewart Granger, but Jean Simmons?  She could be quite good, I think.  Like in "Desiree" and definitely "Angel Face".   Love Deborah Kerr, she's another one with surface calm, but could be pretty fiery underneath.  

[SharkE]

Parr tried to have her own opinions on religion and they took her books away from her after all woman  (back then) believed what her husband believed and when she dared to read other books, and form her own opinions and ideas.  The 'grey people' (Which Fergie not that long ago referred to them, as) wanted to cause trouble. They had the order written up that she was to be taken to the Tower and be questioned usually that was just a formality you was going to be hung, burned at stake, or drawn and quartered anyway.

She caught wind of what was going down and found him first and begged her *** off saying "forgive me I'm just a feeble woman and allowed myself to be led astray and I beg your forgiveness" all on bended knee. He was won over  when the guards found her he grabbed the order and tore it up and after that she kept her opinions to herself. LOL

He is one of my favorite kings, though, You know. Funny, how he blamed all the women for not having sons and it's up to the men's DNA that determines if a son is born. Men, have both chromosomes, women just have the female, so, if he had just 'let go' with the male chromosome his

problem would had been solved.

Poor Jane Seymour had the son, she died 2-3 days later of the way they handled her during childbirth. They had to get the son out. Then, the son, died at 13.

Forgive me , but, I love English history. American ? nah.... LOL

I could bore you forever. My favorite Queen by the way was Eliz the first.

Never married ! LOL

[SharkE]

Stupidest was Catherine Howard. How dumb can you be, lady?

She got the ax, though.  Young and dumb as box of rocks.

Can't feel sorry for that one.

[kaydee50]

Excellent movie.  Jean Simmons is one of my favorites, e.g, Elmer Gantry, Guys & Dolls and others.  Always enjoy watching her.

And since I see we're also discussing his other wives, check out The Private Life of Henry VIII with Laughton's Oscar winning performance.   A very entertaining movie, IMO!!

[spiderw]

I will definitely be taping this movie.  I always liked Jean Simmons and while she wasn't in block buster movies, she was a great actress in my opinion.  I loved her in Spartacus, The Robe and Guys and Dolls!   

I am reading a book about Lady Jane Grey and have read a few books about Henry the VIII and his wives, love history and enjoy the movies centered around that time.  

[SharkE]

Be careful of those historical movies most of them are fabricated to today's audience and are just for the folks who want to see sex, gore, etc.

The best movie on Henry and his lot is the PBS series 'The Wives of Henry the VIII'.   Starring Keith Mitchell . Last name is not spelled right Michel

something like that.

His portrayal is the ONLY one anybody should see. Old movie I bought it.

Worth every nickel. The Laughton one was OK, but, he played him more as a comic figure. The women who played his wives couldn't touch the PBS series women. Not a bad performance in the movie.

If you read a lot on the subject and then you watch a Hollywood production you go "what?" that didn't happen. I believe books more then

a script writer who has been told to 'spice' up history. History, is spicy enough you don't need to fiddle with it. LOL

[SharkE]

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@spiderw wrote:

I will definitely be taping this movie.  I always liked Jean Simmons and while she wasn't in block buster movies, she was a great actress in my opinion.  I loved her in Spartacus, The Robe and Guys and Dolls!   

I am reading a book about Lady Jane Grey and have read a few books about Henry the VIII and his wives, love history and enjoy the movies centered around that time.  

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Lady Jane Grey, was a sad, sad side note to history. She was used by her parents and all it got her was the ax. She didn't believe none of that Catholic doctrine that was popular at the time and dared to defy the Catholics. Once Queen Mary (Bloody Mary) had her killed for refusing to turn Catholic and just wanting her gone , period, she was the worst Queen ever. Fortunately, she died pretty fast and was childless.