Killer Bees (TV 1974)

A strong-willed woman not only dominates her family of California winegrowers, but also has a strange hold on a colony of bees in her vineyard.

Director:

Curtis Harrington

Writers:

John William Corrington, Joyce Hooper Corrington

Stars:

Edward Albert, Kate Jackson, Gloria Swanson

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edward Albert	...	Edward van Bohlen
Kate Jackson	...	Victoria Wells
Gloria Swanson	...	Madame Maria von Bohlen
Roger Davis	...	Dr. Helmut van Bohlen
Don McGovern	...	Mathias van Bohlen
Craig Stevens	...	Rudolf van Bohlen
John S. Ragin	...	Sergeant Jeffreys
Liam Dunn	...	Zeb Tucker
Heather Ann Bostain	...	Roseanna / Housekeeper
Don Gentry	...	Lineman (as Donald Gentry)
Jack Perkins	...	Salesman
Robert L. Balzer	...	Minister
Dan Woodworth	...	Townsman (as Daniel Woodworth)
John Getz	...	Attendant

Storyline

A strong-willed woman not only dominates her family of California winegrowers, but also has a strange hold on a colony of bees in her vineyard.

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Plot Keywords:

vineyard | bee | grande dame guignol | matriarch | beekeeping | 

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Taglines:

She controls the bees. They'll kill for her -- and die for her. She's their queen... and she'll live forever.

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Abejas asesinas

Filming Locations:

Napa, Napa Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Robert Stigwood Organization (RSO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bette Davis was originally slated to star in the film, but at the insistence of her doctor (who feared she'd go into anaphylactic shock if she was stung by a bee), she turned the role down, and it went to the director's second choice, Gloria Swanson.

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Connections

Referenced in Fear in the Dark (1991)

User Reviews

Gloria Swanson: Queen of the B's

Terrific TV-made vehicle for movie icon Gloria Swanson, a compact and beautifully-shot melodrama-cum-thriller. Gloria plays an outré California oddball living on a vineyard ranch and possessing a strange hold over the bees that hover there. Grandson Edward Albert and girlfriend Kate Jackson (who were dating in real-life at the time) come for a visit and get more than they bargained for. Not "The Swarm", but better; school buses and flower paraders are not interjected, and there is no mass hysteria. Credit director Curtis Harrington with the panache, and Gloria Swanson with the campy kicks--she's mah-vah-loss. It's an atmospheric mood-piece, and the rural locales are refreshing.