Roger Ebert said of Invasion of the Bee Girls, at the time of its 1973 release, “[it] is the best schlock soft-core science fiction movie since maybe The Vengeance of She.” Wow. And did Ebert invent a genre there?
In writing about this movie, which is my personal top 10 all time favorite cult films, I don’t want to get bogged down with a long rundown of its plot. For one thing, anyone reading this could get that from IMDB or 20-30 other places on the web. For another, people who haven’t seen the movie, and want to, should experience it the way I originally did: with only a vague sense of what it is about. Let it surprise you.
But, for some reference, here are a few particulars: the tale is set in a place called Peckham, in California. It’s a small town that’s home to a scientific research complex. Men, both inside and outside of the science center, are dying of heart failure. And none of them had cardiac conditions before. Autopsies reveal that they were all into some intense nookie at the time of their passing; or, as one character states, they were “coming and going at the same time.” Because the research center is government-sponsored, the feds get interested and send in one of their agents to investigate.
The cast is ideal. Anitra Ford, one of the original “Barker’s Beauties” models on The Price is Right, portrays a sultry, remote, dangerous lady scientist. 1968's Playboy Playmate of the Year Victoria Vetri is another researcher, and is the good-girl sexy scientist, to balance out Ford’s bad girl-sexy scientist. William Smith, who has an acting CV that goes on forever and who had played badass motorcycle dudes prior to Bee Girls, is the federal agent. That trio makes up the main players, but there are several enjoyable side characters.
Smith, who was gracious enough to answer a few questions of mine about the movie, describes how he came to take on the role of the hunky agent Neil Agar.
Editor's note: Just in case you weren't sure yet… like many other theatrical releases of its era, this film contains abundant skin and frankly sexual references.
Here's Smith's response to my query about how he felt about playing a hero after portraying baddies in earlier roles:
The movie offers an endless bevy of hot babes, gay characters, tensions between Peckham’s working class townies and the high-falutin’ scientists from the laboratories, a wealth of oversize sunglasses and deliriously large 1970’s computing equipment, psychedelic mirror scenes, fisticuffs, a climax that I’m not even going to try to describe . . . . And there’s constantly quotable dialogue. My own favorite line comes from am embittered woman who’s in a loveless marriage to one of the researchers. She tells her long-faced hubby, at their bedtime and with her own mug covered in cold cream, that if she thought that having sex would kill him, she’d be all for undoing their longstanding abstinence. Ahh, love. One of the scenes I enjoy the most is an incidental one, that just comes out of nowhere and ends as abruptly, and that involves a motorcycle, a woman in some cool-ass boots and nothing else, and she and her lover tumbling down a hillside. There’s lots of bee buzzing, too, natch.
“I really liked working with Denis,” Smith relates. “He was a very talented director and writer, and nice to work with. It was sad that he died so young. I was looking forward to working with him again. Anitra Ford and Victoria Vetri I remember as both being good to work with. Victoria was very popular at the time, having recently been Playboy Playmate Of The Year, and she was still trying to get her acting career in gear.”
The thing about Bee Girls is that, despite its schlocky premise, it is a genuinely good movie. No, it can’t be taken seriously. But it’s not like one of those camp films where you laugh the whole time because the acting is so bad, you see the microphones hanging from the ceiling and actors clearly reading from cue cards that are taped to the floor, etc. There’s a very strong atmospheric tone to the movie, the characters are convincing and compelling, there’s mind-altering effects and other striking sensory enhancements. And the story, silly though its premise is, moves along and keeps you watching to see what will happen next. I enjoy it on both a camp level and in a way where I view it without my tongue resting in my cheek. I wish I had seen it on the big screen when it first came out, preferably at a drive-in, maybe paired up on double bill with The Vengeance of She.
I asked Smith how he remembers Sanders’s and the cast’s perspective on the movie, specifically wanting to know whether they were conscious of it being a camp project:
“I think that all of us in the cast and on the crew took this as a fairly serious film, and not anything campy. I feel that Denis certainly felt that way, and he was trying to pattern the feeling of the film after the same type of style and underlying tension that you got from Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, which was a favorite of his. I always play a character straight unless the director tells me otherwise, and I think that even though the film is considered a little campy by today's standards, at the time it was released it was thought of as a straight science fiction / action film.
“I watched it again a couple of years ago, and I thought that it held up pretty well, considering it was made over forty years ago. It still has charm to it, even if it is in a very “70s” sort of way. I think that it is definitely a film that will always be considered a cult classic of that era, and of the genre.”
No doubt. Roger Ebert tagged it as such as soon as he viewed it.
This Sweepstakes has ended.
To enter for a chance to win a DVD copy of Shout Factory's Cult Movie Marathon, Volume 1 (including Invasion of the Bee Girls, The Devil's 8, Unholy Rollers, and Vicious Lips), make sure you're a registered member of the site and simply leave a comment below.
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Bee Girls Comment Sweepstakes: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of 50 United States, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 years or older as of the date of entry. To enter, complete the “Post a Comment” entry at https://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2013/12/cheering-the-invasion-of-the-bee-girls-1973-with-star-william-smith beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) December 10, 2013. Sweepstakes ends 12:59 p.m. ET December 17, 2013. Void outside the United States and Canada and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules here. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010.
Brian Greene's short stories, personal essays, and writings on books, music, and film have appeared in more than 20 different publications since 2008. His articles on crime fiction have also been published by Crime Time, Paperback Parade, Noir Originals, and Mulholland Books. Brian lives in Durham, NC with his wife Abby, their daughters Violet and Melody, their cat Rita Lee, and too many books. Follow Brian on Twitter @brianjoebrain.
Where are my Nik-Nik shirts?!!!
Sounds interesting
Just in case sad, deprived people don’t know what you mean…
[img]http://www.freeimagehosting.net/t/abnqh.jpg[/img]
Those shirts are terrifying.
What a fun “guilty pleasure” for those snowy nights!
I’ll have to check this one out
How cool is that!
Sounds like a night for storms and wind and things that go bump in the night!!!!
While I was growing up, my Sat. afternoons were spent watching these films with my brother. The nightmares they gave me were worth the fun.
Can’t wait to win this one!
I would love a copy
Sounds fantastic!
Movies from a silly time, when we were changing how we thought of lots of things. I wouldn’t mind assing this DVD to my collection.
There’s nothing like a good B movie! lol
Sounds interesting!
For many years I was an actor in Chicago and I knew Roger Ebert. He was smart, a great writer-reviewer, and always had a sharp eye for the good “Guilty pleasures” as he called them. So if he recommended this film–it may not be a great film in the classic sense, but it’s sure to be a fun movie. Roger would never lead his readers wrong.
[b]Seriously, What’s not to like about B girls?[/b]
My friends and I are now having a wonderful time introducing our grandchildren to the B movies we loved!
Sounds like stories of my friends ex-wife!
Now, [u]this[/u], I gotta see (& win!)
This is right up my alley! Wow!
Wow…I was young then, but should remember this. I don’t. I’d love to win it.
This looks… Odd
Wow. A plethora of goodies.
Cult movies and Mosaix! Yes!
Wow!
This sounds great.
I’d love to win.
Please enter me.
Thanks —
I was born after this movie came out (not by much) and I remember the first time I ever saw it rather clearly. For an 8-year old, this was one HOT and innapropriate movie! I would LOVE to have a copy!
Mr. Ebert and I think the same thoughts about this movie!
Love the Bee Girls! Have not seen the others and would love to!
Will be fun to watch with a buzz!
All I can say is let the fun begin, or is it going to end?
I get it. The bee girls are queens. They mate with the male and he dies. This is a funny film lol.
Sounds interesting and I would like a copy
Would love to check this out!
Sounds fun. Fingers crossed to win.
Interesting review. Thanks for the chance to win.
This sounds like a fun watch! sign me up!
love old b films
this looks absolutely great. really fun. I would love to win it!!!
unholly rollers-love that. these would be fun to watch
I love cult film but I haven’t seen this one.
Sounds great!!! Want to win!
I am definitely old enough to have remembered this, but don’t!
I would enjoy watching this film, along with my husband and our
two sons…
Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I like to watch old wacky movies.
Count me in, please!
Awesome giveaway. I’ve never seen this and would love to. Thanks
BEES is the BEST!!
I’ll save a place for it next to Barbarella…
I love this film!!
I love this film!!
What a great collection of B movies to remind me of those long ago days of Saturday afternoon at the movies, and falling in love with all those luscious B girls actresses. The four movies in this DVD would sit proud in my collection of films.
I DO NOT RECALL THIS TYPE OF EXPOSURE IN THE EARLY 70s MY OH MY!!!!!!!
I am not sure if it is considered a cult movie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I love black and white “B” movies also.
I haven’t seen any of these. Pick me!
Why isn’t everyone interested in this kind of high quality entertainment?
Very cool looking movies.
These would be so cool for my son. He’s 27 and having a birthday this weekend. He loves this stuff!
These would be cool for my son. He turns 27 this weekend and he love this stuff! I’d give it up for him. 🙂
Sounds fun, I’m getting sick of all the christmas stuff that been playing since the first of november!
I have never heard of this movie before, but after reading this, I can’t help but absolutley crave watching it. Glad to read it’s played straight too, and not as a schlocky jokefest. That always helps to carry a movie like this. Great post.
[b]OMG. How did I miss these cult gems. I mean how can you top BLONDE IN BLACK LEATHER, ERASERHEAD, FASTER PUSSYCAT KILL! KILL!? I would love to win these films as I have a friend I’d like to share them with. We used to watch cult classics all the time back in the 80’s. I’ll bet she’s seen a couple (if not all) of these. HAPPY HOLIDAZE![/b]
I love bad old movies.
a good cult classic for my collection
I love ’70’s schlock!
Godzilla & Big Bugs are always a favorite of mine.
I would love to add this DVD to my movie collection.
satisfying schlock
Classic movies!!!!!
It would bee good to win
Looks like a fun watch.
a perfect gift for my brother
Sounds like a fun film.
This looks awesome! Never seen these before. I would really enjoy them, TY!! 🙂
looks like a fun one
There’s nothing like old B movies!
I’ll take two!
Do not know how I missed this one.
Just come love me.
sound really great luv to add to mine
hubby would love these, thanks
Oooh, perfect for a winter’s night!
Thank you!
I’d love this!
I am entering your giveaway.
It would be great [b]to win a DVD copy of [/b][b]Shout Factory’s [url=http://www.shoutfactory.com/product/cult-movie-marathon-vol-1]Cult Movie Marathon, Volume 1[/url] (including Invasion of the Bee Girls, The Devil’s 8, Unholy Rollers, and Vicious Lips).[/b]
[b]I haven’t watched any of these movies.[/b]
[b]Thanks for having this giveaway!!!!!!![/b]
William Smith was great as a good guy in Laredo…and great as a bad guy in Rich Man, Poor Man.
I never done seen that one.
Sounds fun. Thanks for the giveaway!
thanks this seems like an awesome giveaway
The plots of these movies sound so interesting to me. I would absolutely love to win them on DVD! Thanks for the great giveaway and opportunity to win.
Thank you for the great giveaway please count me in 🙂
Fun giveaway, as creepy as they are! lol
thanks for the chance to win, i would love to win this for my husband and me!
I’m Speechless. I loved the Unholy Rollers. Wow, all the movies sound great.
I want to win for my dad. Thanks.
love to win for my great husband!!
Interesting movies. Great contest.
I would love a copy of this movie. Sounds interesting!
Looks like a great collection for a movie marathon during the snowy days ahead…
Wowee I missed this one! Must invite the “unusuals” over for movie nite!
remember seeing this- way back