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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Ranald MacDougall
USA 1955

 

Joan Crawford (Berserk) and Barry Sullivan (Framed) lead the cast of the atmospheric melodrama Queen Bee.

Domineering socialite Eva (Crawford) and her alcoholic husband Avery (Sullivan) are trapped in a hostile and loveless marriage. When Eva’s cousin Jennifer (Lucy Marlow, A Star Is Born) comes to stay, she is sucked into a dangerous whirlwind of lies and vengeance...

Reuniting Crawford with Mildred Pierce screenwriter Ranald MacDougall, and featuring cinematography by the great Charles Lang (The Shepherd of the Hills), Queen Bee is a riveting slice of Southern Gothic.

***

Queen Bee offers a stinging portrait of a mad, manipulative woman and chronicles her downfall and that of those around her in this dark drama. On first meeting, Eva Phillips (portrayed with delicious viciousness by Joan Crawford) is the epitome of Southern graciousness and charm. She and her husband, a textile magnate live together in a splendiferous Georgian plantation. Unfortunately, while others are easily beguiled by Mrs. Phillips, her husband knows what a ruthless she-devil she really is and loathes her. To cope with the pain of living with her, he has taken to drinking heavily. Trouble follows when the horrible Eva learns that her husband's sister is engaged to marry the manager of the estate, a man she once loved. Like the proverbial dog in the manger, Eva does all she can to destroy the relationship so she can have the manager back for herself. Unfortunately, she goes too far.

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 7trh, 1955

Reviews                      More Reviews               DVD Reviews

 

Review: Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for DVD Screen Captures!

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:34:40.758      
Video

1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,803,183,826 bytes

Feature: 20,538,577,920 bytes

Video Bitrate: 25.69 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

LPCM Audio English 768 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 112 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 112 kbps / DN -30dB

Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Indicator

 

1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,803,183,826 bytes

Feature: 20,538,577,920 bytes

Video Bitrate: 25.69 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Audio commentary with Little White Lies editor David Jenkins (2025)
• A Sting in the Tale (2025, 18:20): academic and film historian Lies Lanckman discusses the making of the film and its place within Crawford’s filmography
• Fit for a Queen (2025, 23:43): film historian and curator Nathalie Morris explores the career of iconic Hollywood costume designer Jean Louis, with a special focus on his work at Columbia Pictures from 1944 to 1960
• Original theatrical trailer (2:43)
• Image galleries: French photonovel; and promotional and publicity material
Limited edition exclusive 32-page booklet with a new essay by Imogen Sara Smith, an account of the film’s production featuring archival interviews with Joan Crawford, an overview of critical responses, and film credits


Blu-ray Release Date: February 17th, 2025

Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 10

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (February 2025): Indicator have transferred Ranald MacDougall's Queen Bee to Blu-ray. Gregory reviewed this on DVD back in 2012, HERE as part of TCM's Joan Crawford in the 1950s set. We've compared some captures below and the result proves the 1080P to be effectively superior with around 5X the bitrate. There is vastly improved layered contrast, some depth exported and rich black levels. The textures are highly pleasing. Kudos to cinematography by Charles Lang (The Uninvited, A Foreign Affair, Sudden Fear, Separate Tables, Some Like It Hot etc.) Another great looking Indicator vintage film to Blu-ray.  

NOTE: We have added 44 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Queen Bee has no demonstratively / aggressive moments or extravagant sound effects. The brooding score was by George Duning (Houseboat, Harriet Craig, Zombies of the Mora Tau. Two Rode Together, The Eddy Duchin Story, 3:10 to Yuma, Jeanne Eagels, The Shadow on the Window, My Sister Eileen, The Mob, Affair in Trinidad, Tight Spot, Johnny O'Clock, The Dark Past, Convicted, and Between Midnight and Dawn etc.) which adds layers to the narrative. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Little White Lies editor David Jenkins. He cites Queen Bee as the first of three films Joan Crawford made with Columbia in the 1950s. The others being Robert Aldrich's Autumn Leaves and David Miller's The Story of Esther Costello. He talks about Joan Crawford's desire for higher quality source material, and he makes some keen observations - great job! Also new is A Sting in the Tale spending 18-minutes with academic and film historian Lies Lanckman (Stars, Fan Magazines and Audiences: Desire by Design) who discusses the making of the film and its place within Crawford’s filmography. Fit for a Queen is also new and is a 20-minute video piece with film historian and curator Nathalie Morris (The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger: Romantic Imaginations) who explores the career of iconic Hollywood costume designer Jean Louis (A Star Is Born, Pal Joey, Judgment at Nuremberg, Back Street, Gambit,) with a special focus on his work at Columbia Pictures from 1944 to 1960. Indicator include an original theatrical trailer and two image galleries; the French photonovel and promotional and publicity material. The package has a limited edition exclusive 32-page booklet with a new essay by Imogen Sara Smith (In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City,) an account of the film’s production featuring archival interviews with Joan Crawford, an overview of critical responses, and film credits.

Ranald MacDougall's Queen Bee is more of dominating Joan Crawford whose character is described as a "queen bee who stings all her competitors to death". Yes, Mrs. Unlikeable's venom is particularly potent spreading her socialite dysfunction devoid of any hint of Southern Gothic charm. MacDougall (director of The World, the Flesh, and the Devil) was the screenwriter of Mildred Pierce. He knows. Jealous and overdressed, Joan spreads her meanness wide; "My, Carol, you look so sweet. Even in those tacky, old riding clothes." Bitterness abounds. It's glorious. Like Harriet Craig, Queen Bee is premium Joan Crawford - loved and hated by many. Both can enjoy Indicator's strong Blu-ray with new expert commentary, interviews, booklet and the best the film has looked and sounded on digital to date. Easy recommendation.

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 


1) Sony / TCM (Joan Crawford in the 1950s) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony / TCM (Joan Crawford in the 1950s) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony / TCM (Joan Crawford in the 1950s) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony / TCM (Joan Crawford in the 1950s) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


More Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Captures
 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray


 


 

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