Queen Bee

1978 2h 20m JA

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 8

MysteryThrillerHorror

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

To solve the mystery of a murder of an old governess which takes place at a wealthy Daidoji family's country estate, family secrets and lies dating back several generations must be sorted out once and for all.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Koji Ishizaka
Kosuke Kindaichi
Keiko Kishi
Hideko Kamio
Yōko Tsukasa
Tsutayo
Mieko Takamine
Takako Higashikoji
Kie Nakai
Tomoko Daidoji
Masaya Oki
Rentaro Tamon
Mitsuko Kusabue
Otomi
Ryoko Sakaguchi
Oaki

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kon Ichikawa
Writers: Shinya Hidaka, Kon Ichikawa, Chiho Katsura
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

48 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Kosuke Kindaichi Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kon Ichikawa, shot by Kiyoshi Hasegawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Shin'ichi Tanabe. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Nobuo Ogawa shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Koji Ishizaka and Keiko Kishi and Yōko Tsukasa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0077773 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kon Ichikawa directs. Kiyoshi Hasegawa behind the camera. Shin'ichi Tanabe scores. Nobuo Ogawa cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

148 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Part of the "Kosuke Kindaichi Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Kon Ichikawa, shot by Kiyoshi Hasegawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Shin'ichi Tanabe. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Nobuo Ogawa shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Koji Ishizaka and Keiko Kishi and Yōko Tsukasa carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0077773 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Kiyoshi Hasegawa
Original score: Shin'ichi Tanabe
Editing: Nobuo Ogawa
Runtime: 140 min · 2h 20m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: Queen Bee (1978)

Part of

Kosuke Kindaichi Collection

A series of films about private detective Kosuke Kindaichi solving murder cases. Starring Koji Ishizaka in the titular role, directed by Kon Ichikawa.