Wasp Woman, The (1959)

Janice Starlin (Susan Cabot) is the founder and owner of a large cosmetics company and former glamour model who is worried about getting old.

Mad scientist Dr Eric Zinthrop (Michael Mark) explains that he is working on an anti-ageing serum culled from the royal jelly of a queen wasp. Janice agrees to fund further research, at great cost, provided she can serve as his human guinea pig.

Displeased with the slowness of the results, she breaks into his laboratory after hours and injects herself with extra doses of the formula.

Zinthrop, meanwhile, has become aware that some of his test creatures are becoming violent and goes to warn Janice, but before he can reach anyone, he gets into a car accident. Janice goes to great trouble to find him, eventually taking over his care.

Janice continues her clandestine use of the serum and sheds 20 years in a single weekend, but soon discovers that she is periodically transformed into a murderous, wasp-like creature.

Eventually, Zinthrop throws a jar of acid at her face, and she is pushed out of a high window, and falls to her death.

It’s silly stuff but it’s directed at a fast clip by Roger Corman and backed up with a loud Fred Katz jazz score.

The Wasp Woman was originally released as part of a double feature with Beast from Haunted Cave (1959).

Janice Starlin
Susan Cabot
Bill Lane
Anthony (Fred) Eisley
Mary Dennison
Barboura Morris
Arthur Cooper
William Roerick
Dr Eric Zinthrop
Michael Mark
Les Hellman
Frank Gerstle
Night Watchman
Bruno VeSota
Paul Thompson
Roy Gordon
Jean Carson
Carolyn Hughes
Maureen Reardon
Lynn Cartwright
Doctor in the Hospital
Roger Corman
Renfrew the beekeeper
Aron Kincaid

Director
Roger Corman

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