Joan Crawford plays the dominating, manipulative Eva Phillips, in Queen Bee. Though outwardly she oozes love and charm, the truth is she's a selfish woman who must have total control of all those around her. She is married to wealthy mill owner Sullivan, and they live in a huge Georgia mansion where Sullivan spends most of his time drinking to numb the pain of being in a loveless marriage with Crawford, a woman who he despises.
Cousin Jennifer, played by Lucy Marlow, comes to stay a while with Crawford and Sullivan and is taken in by Crawford's charms. However, it isn't long before she sees Crawford for what she is. Sullivan's sister, Palmer, is due to be married to the man who manages the estate, Ireland, and Crawford does what she can to stop that union because she and Ireland had once been lovers and she can't bear the thought of him sleeping with anyone else.
She even resorts to trying to get Ireland back into her hive again. Palmer finally discovers that Ireland and Crawford once had an affair and kills herself. Though initially upset that her machinations may have helped bring on Palmer's demise, Crawford continues to manipulate everyone to her own selfish ends. She soon becomes frustrated by her family's disdain for her and her abhorrent behavior.
Meanwhile, Marlow and Sullivan find a great deal in common and love grows between them. Crawford tries her best to break up this liaison, but Ireland, who has finally had it with Crawford and is still mourning his one true love, takes matters into his own hands. He asks Crawford to go for a drive with him and she readily accepts, thinking that they might be able to recapture their old passion.
But on this seemingly harmless automobile excursion we find that Ireland has decided tht his life is worthless without Palmer and he crashes the car, killing himself and Crawford, which leaves Sullivan and Marlow to live happily ever after. Christina Crawford said that her mother's performance in this film most closely resembled how she interacted with her real-life family. Is Queen Bee good acting on Crawford's part, or is it just a case of art imitating life?....
- Joan Crawford - Eva Phillips
- Barry Sullivan - John Avery Phillips
- Betsy Palmer - Carol Lee Phillips
- John Ireland - Judson Prentiss
- Lucy Marlow - Jennifer Stewart
- Ranald MacDougall - Director / Screenwriter
- Jerry Wald - Producer
- Charles B. Lang - Cinematographer
- George Duning - Composer (Music Score)
- Viola Lawrence - Editor
- Ross Bellah - Art Director
- Morris W. Stoloff - Musical Direction/Supervision
- Jean Louis - Costumes/Costume Designer
- Best Cinematography (nom) - Charles B. Lang - Academy
- Best Costume Design (nom) - Jean Louis - Academy
