Bees in Paradise is directed by Val Guest who also co-writes the screenplay with Marriott Edgar. It stars Arthur Askey, Anne Shelton, Peter Graves, Ronald Shiner and Jean Kent. Music is by Louis Levy and cinematography by Phil Grindrod. Plot finds Askey as one of four airmen who crash on a mysterious island known as Paradise. The island is ruled by women and men are regarded as disposable commodities.
Lightweight in all the right areas, Val Guest's musical comedy is ultimately what it was meant to be, a mood lifter during the war. The gender politics are played nicely for laughs, the majority of the songs are foot tapping delights (notably "I'm a Wolf on My Mother's Side") and Askey turns in one of his better comedic performances. There's of course the usual quota of malarkey, which if the picture was longer than the 72 minutes would stretch the enjoyment, while one elongated section featuring Askey in drag doesn't hit the right notes. But otherwise this is a fun and frothy way to spend just over an hour and ten minutes. 7/10
