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Killer Bees

  • TV Movie
  • 19741974
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 14m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
511
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
20,031
3,787
Killer Bees (1974)
Horror
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
511
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
20,031
3,787
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Curtis Harrington
    • Writers
      • John William Corrington
      • Joyce Hooper Corrington
    • Stars
      • Edward Albert
      • Kate Jackson
      • Roger Davis
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Curtis Harrington
    • Writers
      • John William Corrington
      • Joyce Hooper Corrington
    • Stars
      • Edward Albert
      • Kate Jackson
      • Roger Davis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos

    Gloria Swanson in Killer Bees (1974)
    Killer Bees (1974)
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    Top cast

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    Edward Albert
    Edward Albert
    • Edward van Bohlen
    Kate Jackson
    Kate Jackson
    • Victoria Wells
    Roger Davis
    Roger Davis
    • Dr. Helmut van Bohlen
    Don McGovern
    • Mathias van Bohlen
    Gloria Swanson
    Gloria Swanson
    • Madame Maria von Bohlen
    Craig Stevens
    Craig Stevens
    • Rudolf van Bohlen
    John S. Ragin
    John S. Ragin
    • Sergeant Jeffreys
    Liam Dunn
    Liam Dunn
    • Zeb Tucker
    Don Gentry
    • Lineman
    • (as Donald Gentry)
    Robert L. Balzer
    • Minister
    Jack Perkins
    Jack Perkins
    • Salesman
    Dan Woodworth
    • Townsman
    • (as Daniel Woodworth)
    John Getz
    John Getz
    • Attendant
    Heather Ann Bostain
    • Roseanna…
    Larry De Angelis
    • Man by windows
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Curtis Harrington
    • Writers
      • John William Corrington
      • Joyce Hooper Corrington
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Bette Davis was originally slated to star in the film, but at the insistence of her doctor (who feared that she would go into anaphylactic shock if she was stung by even one bee, much less several of them), she turned the role down, and it went to the director's second choice, Gloria Swanson.
    • Connections
      Featured in House of Harrington (2008)

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    I liked it more than I should
    The quick pitch: Gloria Swanson plays Madame Maria von Bohlen, matriarch of a family of South African winemakers. Madame (as her family calls her) controls almost all aspects of the family, the wine business, and even the bees, so integral to the family's success. But when her black sheep son turns-up with a finance in tow, Madame and the bees don't respond too well.

    Overall, Killer Bees is about what you'd expect from a 1974 made-for-TV movie - typical made-for-TV cast, poor (and I mean really poor) special effects, and not nearly enough horror for a horror movie (it needed more bee attacks). But one thing Killer Bees has going for it is that final twist in the last act. I'm not going to spoil it - I'll just say that it belongs in a much better movie. It really was a nice finish to what was otherwise a fairly routine film. Nice enough to get a 6/10 from me.

    I suppose there are two other things I enjoyed about Killer Bees. First, I always enjoy seeing my favorite of Charlie's Angels, Kate Jackson. Her acting in the final moments of Killer Bees was never better. Second, watching Gloria Swanson in Killer Bees was a real treat. Several times, I thought she was going into full-on Norma Desmond-mode as she overacted her way through this cheap, TV film. Good stuff!
    helpful•3
    0
    • bensonmum2
    • Oct 16, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 26, 1974 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Abejas asesinas
    • Filming locations
      • Napa, Napa Valley, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Robert Stigwood Organization (RSO)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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