Review of Queen Bee (1955) by Sausages M — 06 Oct 2010

Amusingly campy melodrama with Crawford being a bitch. The supporting players do quite well, but I think this is just too much of a 'vehicle' and a little too Tennessee Williams-lite to be worth more than an arched pair of eyebrows (how appropriate) on a bored afternoon. I expected it to veer over into high camp, but it doesn't quite make it there despite Joan's best efforts. At times, the pace is overtly sluggish, and the characters are all a little one-dimensional- especial Crawford, who has no real depth here beyond being nasty. More could have been made of the husband- Sullivan does his best but it doesn't really work.

Consequently, the whole thing comes off as soapy. Having said all that, it's an entertaining enough film- probably the sort that improves upon a second viewing- with the boys and the booze!!