Young Bess (1953)

Charles Laughton: King Henry VIII

Photos 

Quotes 

• Anne Boleyn : [referring to her involvement in little Elizabeth's birth]  But Henry, didn't I have a hand in it?

  King Henry VIII : Of course.

  [smiles wickedly at Anne] 

  King Henry VIII : But I gave you the idea.

  [laughter from Anne and the courtiers] 

• King Henry VIII : Anne Boleyn's brat, I'll put you in the Tower if you don't talk! You dare defy me? Yes, you dare. I'm beginning to like you.

• King Henry VIII : Is this a war or a picnic?

• King Henry VIII : Pretty business when when become clerics, find comfort to me in my old age to be taught from my wife! Do you know how heresy is punished here in this country? Do you know what the law obliges me to do to you, even though I like you? You know I like you very much. You know you are a very pretty woman. I like you very much.

• King Henry VIII : Were there ever two brothers less alike, fighting like Kilkenny Cats?

• King Henry VIII : Haven't your tutors told you the world is round?

  Young Bess : They must be wrong and the world is flat!

  King Henry VIII : So, it's flat! You shape the world as it suits you!

  Young Bess : Why not? Didn't you?

  King Henry VIII : [pause, laughs]  So I did! You're my daughter!

• King Henry VIII : Stop that hellcat screeching!

• King Henry VIII : You're a cold fish. People don't like that. They like a man to laugh and drink with them. A man of courage.

• King Henry VIII : Tom, you're a man of my own kidney. Tom.

• King Henry VIII : Pray for my soul to release it from purgatory.

  Ned Seymour : You have abolished purgatory.

  King Henry VIII : Don't argue, Ned.

• King Henry VIII : You saw the French coming. What will you do when they come again?

  Young Bess : England has never been invaded.

  King Henry VIII : Not by the Normans?

  Young Bess : Yes, but, they were us or they couldn't have done it.

  King Henry VIII : Hey, did you all hear what she said? Ned, Tom, did you hear what she said? Oh, oh, I wish she were a boy. Watch her grow up, Tom. And you keep an eye on her. Ned, you wait and see, she'll make you jump. She'll twist your tail for it. Oh, I wish I were there to see the fun.