Product Details

• Actors: Suzanna Leigh, Frank Finlay, Guy Doleman
• Directors: Freddie Francis
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Legend Films
• DVD Release Date: October 1, 2008
• Run Time: 84 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001DAIVXE
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #52,896 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Deadly Bees" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Amicus, the British company that was Hammer Film s chief rival in the 1960s and early 1970s, produced a plethora of interesting (and sometimes not so interesting) horror and science fiction programmers, many using the same personnel as their competitor. Directed by legendary cameraman Freddie Francis, The Deadly Bees was released a full decade before the killer insects craze swarmed cinemas, and it was actually scripted by Psycho author Robert Bloch (who had an ongoing relationship with Amicus), based on the novel A Taste of Honey by H.F. Heard, but re-written by Anthony Marriott at the director s demand. In the U.S., Paramount released the film on a double bill with the laughable (and MIA on DVD) The Vulture, and Legend Films here presents its home video debut with an excellent looking disc.

Exhausted pop singer Vicki Robbins (Suzanna Leigh) collapses on stage while lip-synching her latest hit on a Top of the Pops type TV program. Her physician recommends a few weeks of rest in the country, prompting her to visit the quiet and remote island farm, Seagull Island. There, Vicki lodges with a middle-aged couple, Ralph Hargrove (Guy Doleman) and his wife Mary (Catherine Finn), who are constantly bickering. Mr. Hargrove seems more interested in his bee cages more than anything else, and is suspected when swarm of killer bees offs the family dog and then Mrs. Hargrove. Peculiar neighbor Manfred (the great Frank Finlay) also has an interest in bees, and befriends Vicki (who just can t seem to get any peace and quiet) to get to the bottom of things.

[...] Suzanna Leigh is a charming enough leading lady, but she would give better performances in Hammer s The Lost Continent and Lust For A Vampire. In one sequence, she is pursued indoors by the pesty insects wearing nothing but a white bra and slip, and this sexy image was utilized for the exploitive advertising campaign. The supporting cast is another who s who? of British character actors, including Hammer Films perennial Michael Ripper, Katy Wild (Evil of Frankenstein), James Cossins (The Anniversary), Michael Gwynn (Revenge of Frankenstein), Maurice Good (They Came From Beyond Space), Alister Williamson (The Oblong Box) and Tim Barrett (The Mummy s Shroud).

Making a brief appearance early on in the film is the British rock group The Birds (not to be confused with the American hitmakers, The Byrds). Although they never had a record contract, their appearance here is notable as you get a glimpse of a very young Ron Wood, who went on to play guitar for The Jeff Beck Group, The Faces and of course, the legendary Rolling Stones, which he has remained a member of for over 30 years now. In his recent autobiography, Ronnie, Wood makes mention of the film: The film was called The Deadly Bees, and we were extras playing a band in the background. A very forgettable scene. It was years later before I actually saw the film, and there I was, wearing a horrible polo neck, holding a guitar decorated with Fablon (a frightful sticky plastic covering). But who cares, the Birds were doing their best.

Legend Films has done a splendid job with their DVD release of The Deadly Bees, which is framed at 1.78:1 with anamorphic enhancement. The image is sharp, clean and displays a nice level of detail, with colors being strong and fleshtones looking natural. Paramount must have kept the film s element in very good condition, reflected in this transfer which exhibits very few age related blemishes. The mono English audio track is free of any noticeable distortion, with dialogue and music being cleanly reproduced. There are no subtitle options, but the disc is close captioned. --George R. Reis of DVDDrive-In.com

Product Description

An ailing starlet is sent to a remote island to recover and little does she know that she is about to stumble into...a Hive of Horror! A diabolical neighbor has discovered the smell of fear and is using it to control a lethal swarm! Featuring over the top performances and very "special" effects, The Deadly Bees is late night drive-in fare at its campy best.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ENTERTAINING HORROR MYSTERY FROM THE 60'S! GLAD TO SEE THIS ON DVD!, October 21, 2008

By	! MR. KNOW IT ALL ;-b "DR SHOCK" (TRI STATE AREA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Here's an obscure film that has finally made it's way to DVD. One of the better Killer Bee movies and it's wrapped in a nice little mystery to boot! The Bee effects run hot and cold, but still deliver that creepy crawly feeling. I remember this film from Saturday's afternoon horror fest when I was a wee lad! The film holds up and is as entertaining as I remembered it to be. The DVD transfer look very good, but the titles etc seemed a little fuzzy, nothing too distracting though. It would have been nice to have some extras, even a trailer! Too bad, but it makes a fun Halloween flick!

4.0 out of 5 stars Atmospheric Early Amicus Production Combining Horror And Mystery, October 9, 2009

By	Simon Davis - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I'm sure many people don't realise that almost 10 years before such killer insect films as "Ants" and "The Swarm", crawled onto our big screens menacing all star casts and alternately horrifing and sometimes unintentionally amusing us, there had already been a film released back in 1967 that created those same sort of chills, admittedly on a more modest scale. This little effort, "The Deadly Bees" was produced by the famed Amicus production company in England who along with their British rivals the legendary Hammer Studios ruled the horror field through the 1960's and early 1970's. With the possible exception of Hitchcock's "The Birds" Amicus were probably the first production company to bring such a story to the screen before the genre really took off in popularity in the 1970s when "wildlife on the rampage" was the flavour of the moment in cinema offerings. Rarely seen and almost impossible to track down until this new DVD release "The Deadly Bees" is often critised and even disowned by those that made it which upon viewing the film I feel is a totally unfair judgement. Certainly the first rate DVD presentation of the film (despite the disappointing lack of extras) indicates that someone had enough of a belief in the film's entertainemnt value to bring it out of the vault where for too long it's been hidden away. I had long wanted to see this film and I was pleasantly surprised by it and felt it had much to offer horror fans such as myself. Despite the obvious horror element of the swarming killer bees of the title "The Deadly Bees" for me was more of an intriguing mystery aided by some very good performances given by the talented cast. Together with great camera work, atmospheric locations and ok special effects for the time it all combines to make "The Deadly Bees" a film well worth including in your Amicus productions horror collection.

"The Deadly Bees" based on the H. F. Heard novel "A Taste of Honey" was one of Amicus productions earliest efforts and was directed by veteran horror favourite Freddie Francis. It has finally made a most welcome debut on DVD courtesy of Legend Films and is sure to please all fans of the legendary "sister" production companies of Amicus and Hammer. It tells the story of a burnt out singer Vicki Robbins (Suzanna leigh) who on doctor's orders travels to an isolated island to rest. However once there she encounters nothing but trouble first from the quarreling couple (Guy Doleman, Catherine Finn) she lodges with and then from a seemingly friendly neigbour (Frank Findlay) who is not all he first appears to be. The strangeness of the situation increases after a number of horrific deaths occur from savage swarms of bees who seem to attack on command, but who is responsible? All comes to a fiery climax with Vicki fighting for her life as the real culprit behind this swarming terror is revealed. Perhaps not a terribly original premise but I felt Amicus put all their effort into playing up the mystery and perhaps keeping some of us guessing as to who or what was behind the attacking killer Bees. I personally really liked Suzanna Leigh in the lead and felt that with the obvious limitations of her character she created something interesting here as well as being most attractive. Ms. Leigh would also work for Hammer Studios during this period and appeared in their "The Lost Continent" and "Lust for A Vampire". Frank Finlay gives without a doubt the best performance in the picture as the seemingly mousey neighbour only interested in his bees who wouldn't harm a fly, or in this case a bee! It's also pleasing to see in "The Deadly Bees" my favourite Hammer character actor Michael Ripper given a role that is strongly a part of the proceedings from start to finish.

Legend Films have done this obscure film proud with a beautiful DVD release. The film seems to have been superbly restored with vivid rich colour and very good sound especially during the bee attack scenes. Shown in its correct widescreen the only negative on this DVD is the lack of any extras. We have scene selection and that is it. It would have been good to have had Suzanna Leigh do a commentary like she did on the DVD release of "Lust For A Vampire" however I guess we can't complain as the film looks superb and is up to the standard of previous better known Amicus DVD releases such as "Asylum" and "And Now The Screaming Starts". Despite the early special effects the bee attacks still pack a real punch and are sure to still please horror fans now so used to CGI effects. Sit back and enjoy beautiful Suzanna Leigh battling savage killer bees in Legend Films most welcome release of 1967s little seen "The Deadly Bees".

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Buy DOES have this for 16.99, RECALLS ALL BS, August 13, 2008

By	JOSEPH O'BRIEN "Joey O'Brien" (EATONTOWN, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

Best Buy DOES have this for 16.99, RECALLS ALL BS, especially on When Dinos Ruled Earth. you can also get this directly from Legend films even if its not listed as a direct buy from them. This movie is camp at it's best. I liked The Swarm much better, but this is still a great movie. If you live in the tristate area, you might remember seeing this on channel 7's 4:30 movie right before the 6 O'Clock Eyewitness News with Roger Grimsby and Bill Beutel