Asked by Francis I to tutor his son, Diane de Poitiers becomes the future King Henry II's mistress in 1500s France.
Costume
Edith Head's gowns that weigh more than the actual historical figures.
Acting
Lana Turner committing to every longing glance like her rent depends on it.
Production
MGM's backlot France: suspiciously clean, impossibly golden, zero plagues.
Director
David Miller
Lana Turner
Diane de Poitiers - Countess de Breze
Pedro Armendáriz
King Francis I
Roger Moore
Prince Henri
Marisa Pavan
Catherine de Medici
Cedric Hardwicke
Ruggieri
Torin Thatcher
Louis - Count de Breze
Taina Elg
Alys
John Lupton
Regnault
Henry Daniell
Gondi
Sean McClory
Count Michel Montgomery
Geoffrey Toone
Duke of Savoy
Michael Ansara
Count Ridolfi
Paul Cavanagh
Lord Bonnivet
Melville Cooper
1st Court Physician
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Lana Turner demanded the title be changed from 'Young Bess' ripoff to simply 'Diane'—star power, baby.
This flopped so hard it nearly killed the 1950s historical epic boom until 'Ben-Hur' revived it three years later.
US
