The Deadly Bees (1966)

Good movie but grossly overrated

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Just because there are worse movies with similar themes are still made today doesn't buy much credit for this one ... yes, it might have attracted some attention back in the day but i'd say this is BAD even for its time! glad the director admitted it himself too ...

"Vicki Robbins" (Suzanna Leigh) is a British pop singer who has a nervous collapse due to her hectic schedule and is sent by her doctor to a remote place called "Seagull Island" for some rest and relaxation. When she gets to the local hotel she meets the owner by the name of "Ralph Hargrove" (Guy Doleman) who seems rather aloof and prefers to spend his time tending his bee hives. So when a dog, that Ralph didn't like, is killed by bees Ralph's wife immediately thinks he had something to do with it--and so does Vicki. Then when Ralph's wife is also killed by swarms of bees Vicki becomes even more convinced. But proving it is another matter entirely. Now rather than reveal any more of this film I will just say that it was an adequate "Grade-Bee movie" for the most part which seemed to concentrate more on mystery than horror or suspense. Naturally, as one might expect from a movie produced in the mid-60s, the special effects were rather elementary compared to today's standards. But the acting was okay and all things considered it managed to fill the time satisfactorily enough. That said, I rate it as about average.

Most of the I.M.D.B. reviews of this film appear to be of the 'Mystery Science Theatre 3000' comedy version, rather than the original. With all due respect, I fail to see how anyone can objectively comment on a film when all they have seen is a send-up. It would be like someone who's never viewed 'The Elephant Man' ( 1980 ) looking at a photograph of John Hurt as he is in real life and trying to guess what he looks like as 'John Merrick'!'The Deadly Bees' ( 1967 ) is one of Amicus' lesser offerings. Based on the novel 'Taste Of Honey' by H.F. Heard ( a title they could not have used then as Rita Tushingham would have had something to say about it! ), it was written by Robert Bloch ( author of 'Psycho' ) and Anthony Marriott ( who wrote for 'The Avengers' amongst other things ), and directed by Freddie Francis. Susanna Leigh is 'Vicki Robbins', a pop singer who collapses in the midst of a 'Ready Steady Go' type show ( which curiously lacks a live audience ). Suffering from nervous exhaustion, she is ordered to take time off from her hectic schedule. She goes to Seagull Island, where it seems only five people live ( including Michael Ripper as a pub landlord ). She moves in with the Hargroves ( Guy Doleman and Catherine Finn ). Hubby Ralph is a creepy type who keeps bees, and strangely makes no attempt to have his way with Vicki. She decides to investigate his furtive behaviour ( such as using a syringe to extract blood from a horse ), and suspects he may have perfected a way of controlling swarms of bees so that they can attack people. Another beekeeper, 'Manfred' ( Frank Finlay ) befriends her. Several bee attacks take place, and Vicki herself becomes a victim...Leigh is a lovely lady ( who put me in mind of Wendy Craig ) who appeared in several '60's films, including Tony Curtis' 'Boeing, Boeing' and 'Deadlier Than The Male' ( both 1966 ). She's no great shakes as an actress, and the part does not require her to do more than clean her teeth and look scared. The then-unknown Elkie Brooks dubbed her singing voice. Doleman is best remembered as the dour 'Colonel Ross' from 'The Ipcress File' ( 1965 ) and its sequels, while Finlay later headlined notorious '70's dramas 'Casanova' and 'Bouquet Of Barbed Wire'. Tim Barrett appears briefly as a pompous Whitehall official who has received threats from the mysterious bee master. The mystery at the heart of this story is not terribly difficult to solve. The island is too under populated for that. The bee attacks - though crudely done - are nevertheless effective. Had Amicus ever made a 'Journey To The Unknown'-type anthology series ( as Hammer did ), this would have been perfect for inclusion.Things To Look Out For - a cameo from chart-topping group 'The Byrds'!Another reviewer said this made 'The Swarm' look good. I disagree. Nothing in this film compares to the sheer stupidity of Richard Chamberlain and Jose Ferrer flapping their arms in slow motion as the bees invade a nuclear power station. And here the bees look real ( though a little over-sized in some shots ) unlike the Styrofoam pellets thrown at the camera lens in Irwin Allen's notorious 1976 stinker!

I went into this film wanting to like it. I am a fan of Freddie Francis who directed the masterful GIRLY (one of the best and unique films I have ever seen) as well as actors Suzanna Leigh (LUST FOR A VAMPIRE) and the great character actor Michael Ripper (THE REPTILE) but there was nothing of value in this film. It was ripe for those guys at Mystery Science Theatre 3000.Suzanna Leigh plays an overworked popstar who falls flat on her backside while filming a song. Her doctor prescribes rest and sends her off to stay with an old friend on an island. Suzanna moves in with the Hargroves while on vacation but her arrival coincides with some attacks from a swarm of bees. Both Mr. Hargrove (Guy Doleman) and the eccentric Manfred (Frank Finlay) keep bees but which fellow is to blame for the attacks? Manfred blames Hargrove and befriends Suzanna, who suspects Hargrove of foul play when his wife is killed by the deadly bees.STORY: $ (This screenplay is very weak. I got the impression that the writer knew about as much on beekeeping as I do--which is zip. The bees swarm, make their kill, and disappear in a manner of seconds. People come rushing to their aid, seconds after an attack, and the bees have all departed. No one even hears so much as a buzz from the killer bees. And the dialogue, especially that from Frank Finlay's character, is absurd).ACTING: $$ (Nothing of note here. Suzanna Leigh does a great job with what is given her but she is in far better shape in such films as LUST FOR A VAMPIRE and LOST CONTINENT. Michael Ripper is always a treat even when he has little to do. He has more than a cameo in this film but he's really not on screen often enough for fans to clamor for this film. Guy Doleman is effectively curmudgeonly as Hargrove but Frank Finlay isn't up to the task of Manfred. Some of his line readings are laughable).NUDITY: None (About all anyone seems to remember from this little film is Suzanna Leigh fighting off a swarm of bees in her bra. That's really the highlight of this forgettable movie).