Killer Bees

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!

KILLER BEES is usually mainly remembered for being one of the last roles of film legend Gloria Swanson's career (although she remained very much in the public eye long afterward and did not pass away until 1983). Swanson aficionados may be disappointed on first viewing that hers is a showy but decidedly supporting role in a film dominated by the young Kate Jackson but it's a memorable performance.

Kate Jackson and Edward Albert are a young San Francisco couple living together while he is in college. Jackson talks Albert into bringing her to visit his mysterious family estate - which he hasn't been to for a few years - in California's vineyard country. Jackson learns the Van Bohlens are an extremely reclusive lot who don't like visitors and besides the vineyards raise a rather ominous bunch of bees, some of whom just so happened to have killed a trespasser on the estate the same day as the couple's arrival. Jackson attempts at warmth toward Albert's father (Craig Stevens) and brothers are coolly rebuffed and then there's his imposing immigrant grandmother Gloria Swanson who is literally the queen bee, not only of the family but creepy little buzzers that are all over the place. The question is does this family control the killer bees or is it the other way around?

Somewhat reminiscent of Hitchcock's THE BIRDS, KILLER BEES is an effective if uneven suspense horror, it's main problem being an obviously rushed production leading to a few less than smooth takes and a few weak performances among some of the supporting players (even among the extras many of whom seem only mildly interested as the threatening bees begin to engulf the church were funeral services are being held). Jackson is quite good in this and Edward Albert even better. Albert, handsome but with an bit of an odd vibe about him despite being a "good guy", is very well cast. Craig Stevens and Roger Davis don't have that much to do but give an air of chilly menace and certainly Miss Swanson gives her all to this imposing matriarch and creates a memorably Gothic character. There are several very well staged suspenseful scenes, notably the funeral (effective despite the extras) and particularly the climax as the bees take over the house while Jackson is home alone and Swanson's interactions with the bees (whom are like pets to her) are superbly filmed. Definitely worth seeking out if one has interest in the genre or cast.

The first five minutes are unintentionally hilarious. The rest is a melodramatic convoluted script with Gloria Swanson doing a terrible impersonation of Marlene Deitrrich.

After a swarm of mysterious bees attacks and kills trespasser Jack Perkins on a grape field belonging to the "Van Bohlen Winery", handsome Edward Albert (as Edward Van Bohlen) drives into the town of "Von Bohlen" with pretty fiancée Kate Jackson (as Victoria Wells). The couple has been living in San Francisco for two years, and Ms. Jackson is newly pregnant. Although Mr. Albert has advised against it, Jackson is determined get acquainted with his weird and wealthy family.

Most importantly, Jackson meets queenly matriarch Gloria Swanson (as Maria Von Bohlen), who displays an affinity for bees. After both Roger Davis (as Helmut Van Bohlen), and a wayward bee disrupt the couple's first dinner, Jackson begins to regret her visit. Mr. Davis' news about the film's opening bee killing is only the beginning. Before getting out of "Von Bohlen", Jackson intends to tell "Madame" Swanson that, as Albert's pregnant lover, she already considers herself a part of the family.

Gloria Swanson, "Killer Bees", and two "Dark Shadows" alumni make this an irresistible TV movie event.

Swanson did "Bees" and the film "Airport 1975", after a long absence. The movie is, actually, a finer "performance" - but, at this point, it's just nice to see Swanson in anything. - Aside: I met her around this time and she seemed very capable of continuing her career. And, she looked more natural in person (without the gray hair). Swanson advised me against eating sugar; she said, "Sugar is poison." I followed her advice very strictly at first, and still won't add sugar to anything. I think she was correct.

"Angel" watchers note Kate Jackson is the "star" of this movie and is amazingly beautiful during the last act.

Jackson joined "Dark Shadows" during the "1995" storyline, and Roger Davis last appeared during the earlier "Leviathan" storyline; so, they never appeared together on the show. But, if you count the first "Dark Shadows" movie, they were regulars at the same time. Davis had been married Jaclyn Smith, another of "Charlie's Angels", since 1968. Jackson and "Bees" co-star Edward Albert were a great-looking couple who should have considered getting married - see them also in "Death Cruise" (1974). Small world, isn't it?

There seems to have been some confusion about whether to name the main family "Van Bohlen" or "Von Bohlen" - my guess is that the city sign is wrong, and it's supposed to be the more frequently pronounced "Van Bohlen". As far as the film goes, it's done well enough for a limited budget TV movie. How exactly do you direct bees? They can't have been easy, and Curtis Harrington deserves credit for putting some sting in the proceedings. Interestingly, the production design is by Joel Schumacher.

******** Killer Bees (2/26/74) Curtis Harrington ~ Kate Jackson, Edward Albert, Gloria Swanson, Roger Davis

Killer Bees (1974)

** (out of 4)

Edward van Bohlen (Edward Albert) brings his friend Victoria (Kate Jackson) back to his family estate years after leaving them behind. Before long the friend begins to realize that some local deaths might have been caused by the bees that Madame Maria von Bohlen (Gloria Swanson) has been raising.

KILLER BEES is another made-for-television horror film from director Curtis Harrington but sadly it's not one of his best. I guess you really can't blame him too much because there really hasn't been a good film dealing with killer bees. you can watch THE DEADLY BEES, THE BEES or even THE SWARM and you'll see that they're all pretty bad in their own way. This film here at least has a couple good performances but sadly there's just not enough going on throughout the 73-minute running time.

The biggest problem with the film is the fact that it's basically a lot of family drama and too much talking. I lost count of how many scenes had Edward talking about leaving his family and the friend talking about how they must discover the truth. There's just way too much boring melodrama here and none of it really has anything to do with the main plot. There are a couple bee attacks but they're not very good as the special effects are certainly lacking.

The one saving grace were the actors. Both Albert and Jackson were good in their roles as was Roger Davis in his role as the family doctor. Then you've got the legend Swanson. I'm not going to say she gave a good performance but it was at least an entertaining one as she certainly sold the role with a somewhat over-the-top performance.