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Queen Bee

Play trailer Poster for Queen Bee 1955 1h 35m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In the 1950s American South, the vicious and conniving Eva Phillips (Joan Crawford) makes the lives of those around her miserable -- especially her husband, Avery (Barry Sullivan), who resorts to heavy drinking and becomes an alcoholic. Meanwhile, when Eva discovers her sister-in-law (Betsy Palmer) is to wed her former lover (John Ireland), she really becomes nasty. Witnessing Eva's cruel exploits is Avery's cousin, Jennifer Stewart (Lucy Marlow), who can only stand by, mortified.
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Queen Bee

Critics Reviews

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Francois Truffaut Arts (France) 05/09/2022
The acting is not absolutely bad, but weak, very weak, including Joan Crawford’s... Not only is the mise- en-scene clumsy but also, because of its solemn awkwardness, it curbs the timid impulses of the script [and] dulls the rare clever details. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 10/30/2019
A vintage item for the Joan Crawford Fan Club, but a bit of an ordeal for non-members like me. She appears as the self-adoring psychotic empress of a wealthy tribe of moderns. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 07/01/2010
C+
About as much fun as being stung by a bee. Go to Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal 08/22/2003
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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The Criticism O Apr 10 Great Film and captivating story, shot in minimal locations and it works. To my critics of the movie and characters tho, Eva is not the only villain of the story. Avery is just a bad husband, a drunk, never wants to go out nor do anything with his wife. That makes him a villain too. Plus he kissed his wife cousin. How distasteful. The cousin Jennifer is also a villain for falling in love with her cousin’s husband. And also Jud, is a villain too for having an affair with his boss wife, when he’s the one who introduced them. In conclusion, they were in no position to judge Eva. She was a villain, but not THE villain of the story. But, Great filmmaking. I love me some good film noir. See more Steve D 01/24/2024 Crawford fans like me will enjoy. See more Cole T 07/02/2023 Phenomenal! I have no idea why this isn't rated as well as it is, great acting and a gripping and suspenseful storyline. Very dramatic, a classic for sure. Very underrated. See more 05/21/2017 Excellent Joan Crawford vehicle. Scary controlling bitch and she knows it. Terrific interaction between all the characters. Having a lotta money may not make you happy. See more 04/24/2017 Strong performances in a depressing story. Not much to add from what everyone else has said, except that I loved Crawford's gowns. She's 51-years-old here and except for those eyebrows (why, Joan, why??) she looks fabulous! See more 06/10/2015 The late Betsy Palmer was so young and pretty here See more Read all reviews
Queen Bee

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Cast & Crew

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Ranald MacDougall

Director

Joan Crawford

Eva Phillips

Barry Sullivan

Avery 'Beauty' Phillips

Betsy Palmer

Carol Lee Phillips

John Ireland

Judson Prentiss

Lucy Marlow

Jennifer Stewart

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Queen Bee

Queen Bee (1955) Queen Bee (1955) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1950s American South, the vicious and conniving Eva Phillips (Joan Crawford) makes the lives of those around her miserable -- especially her husband, Avery (Barry Sullivan), who resorts to heavy drinking and becomes an alcoholic. Meanwhile, when Eva discovers her sister-in-law (Betsy Palmer) is to wed her former lover (John Ireland), she really becomes nasty. Witnessing Eva's cruel exploits is Avery's cousin, Jennifer Stewart (Lucy Marlow), who can only stand by, mortified.
Director
Ranald MacDougall
Producer
Jerry Wald
Screenwriter
Edna L. Lee, Ranald MacDougall
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Columbia TriStar Home Video
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 7, 1955, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 15, 2010
Runtime
1h 35m
Sound Mix
Mono
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