"I seem to crave nothing but sweets of late." Dr. Susan Harris (Queen Bee) in "Invasion of the Bee Girls."

This double feature disc from the Cat Com budget line is certainly a mixed blessing. The prints for both films are in pretty bad condition and appear to be taken from 16mm transfers. Which means the correct composition and color timing for each film are off completely and audio ranges from fair to poor. But just like the copy on the back of the DVD case reads, it's "just like being at the drive-in movies." Programmers like "Bee Girls" and "Incredible" would play for years on the drive-in circuit, often in truncated versions because of wear and tear in certain sections. Admittedly, those unfamiliar with the outdoor movie experience will find little charm in these poor prints, but the low price (under 5 dollars online) and fun extras make it hard to resist. Especially considering these two genre favorites have been unavailable for quite sometime.

"Invasion of the Bee Girls" is one of the few softcore exploitation films from the early '70's to incorporate a high-concept science fiction theme. Most of the sexploitation product from this period was either broadly comedic in tone or some variation on the lesbian vampire. It's also one of the few drive-in films of its time to succeed at intentional camp. All of the requisite softcore trappings are here: beautiful women having sex with ugly men, abundant, often unmotivated nudity and just a touch of girl on girl love. The major difference here is that the filmmakers, already aware of the inherent clichés, play up the absurdity level and then unashamedly allow the proceedings to unfold with a straight face. Intentional camp rarely works, especially when it is attempted with smug self-awareness. "Bee Girls" is refreshingly honest about its ridiculousness, never once winking at its audience. Effectively pleasing both the "rain coat" and the cult film crowd at the same time. It was co-written by a woman (Sylvia Schneble, along with future "Star Trek 2" director Nicholas Meyer), which might explain its sly feminist approach to the proceedings.

"Bee Girls" follows the exploits of State Department investigator Neil Agar (b-movie legend William Smith) as he looks into a series of deaths in a small California town. It seems that men are dying from "sexual exhaustion" and it just might have something to do with a local government lab. Neil enlists the aid of Julie (Victoria Vetri from "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth"), a lab assistant, and the two attempt to unravel the secret behind the sex-induced deaths. It isn't long before they are led to the mysterious Dr. Susan Harris (the amazing Anitra Ford) whose penchant for wearing groovy Jackie O. sunglasses indoors and vast knowledge of bees more than likely holds the key to the mayhem.

Ford is one of the true unsung b (and bee) -movie queens of '70's exploitation. Best known as one of the original Price Is Right models, Ford went on to star in several drive-in classics including "The Big Bird Cage" and "Messiah of Evil." The grocery store scene in the later (where she's hunted down by zombies) remains one of the creepiest moments in '70's cinema. Her part in "Bee Girls," though merely a supporting role, is what gives the film its comedic edge. Her wickedly sexy (yet coolly impassive) portrayal of Dr. Harris juxtaposes quite well with a cast of mainly inexperienced actors (Smith excepted). When sexploitation cliché dictates that Ford's Dr. Harris plant a luscious lesbian kiss on a new bee recruit - genuine sparks fly. As ridiculous and unnecessary as the kiss is, Ford's uncompromising belief in the moment makes it work. If she had continued her career in film (her last credit is '74's "The Longest Yard") she might have rivaled Marry "Hell Hole" Woronov in cult icon stature.

"Bee Girls" is rife with bad dialogue (intentional and otherwise), and misses several opportunities for observant satire. More attention to the bee women (none are truly girls) would have been fun; especially the bizarre method of transforming them. The scenes between the two leads also often fall flat, but that has more to do with the poor acting from Vetri than the script. Director Denis Sanders, known more for his TV work, does a serviceable job with the material and appears to be in on the joke. He and cinematographer Gary Graver have an eye for clever composition and the scenes with the ladies of the title (donning the Jackie O. sunglasses and sexy outfits) are truly iconic and stand out from other typical genre films of the period. There is also a nice sense of humor in the editing/pacing of many scenes (rendered almost moot with such a poor print). Also of note is the groovy original music by the prolific Charles Bernstein; an appropriate chorus of female's "la, la-ing" through a catchy '70's groove. Bernstein is the composer of countless great scores including a little independent film called "A Nightmare on Elm Street." Bright, funny and often smart and subversive "Bee Girls" is a wonderful time capsule for the last great decade of sexploitation.

"The Incredible 2 Headed Transplant" has been a staple of TV programming for years. Its most memorable aspect is the bizarre cast featuring Bruce Dern, Casey "Shaggy" Kasem and Pat "The Munsters" Priest. Dern (looking a little embarrassed) plays Dr. Roger Girard, an obsessed scientist experimenting in the rarified field of head transplantation. He works from a convenient laboratory at home while his neglected wife Linda (Priest) spends most of her time in the garden with their hired hand's slow son Danny. Danny is played by the late John Bloom, a tall character actor who appeared in several low budget horror films including Wes Craven's idiotic "Hills Have Eyes Part 2." Linda, who hardly sees her husband anymore, grows concerned for his mental health and calls his friend and peer Dr. Anderson (Kasem) to intervene.

Anderson learns that the good doctor has been experimenting with grafting extra heads onto animal bodies and is just biding his time until he can find a human guinea pig. As luck would have it, one arrives in the form of psychotic killer Manuel (over-the-top Albert Cole), on the run from the authorities. The sex-starved killer happens upon the Girard house and is immediately taken with Linda, sunning out by the pool. Naturally, she's abducted by the maniac - who is eventually hunted down and shot. Giving the scientist a perfect opportunity to experiment on an actual human. Using the hulking body of the slow man-child (why not?), he grafts the head of the psycho onto his shoulder (of course). It's not long before the killer takes control of the body and two-headed horror ensues.

"Incredible" is exactly the kind of entertainment that the title suggests and, if nothing else, is moderately entertaining. Released directly to the drive-in/matinee circuit in 1971, it was sold primarily as a juvenile programmer (hence the PG rating). One of its strongest attributes is the rough, lurid atmosphere created by director Anthony M. Lanza. It might be a kid's film, but the violence and sexual situations are just this side of a hard "R." Watching the former Marylin Munster beaten up and almost raped is a decidedly surreal experience. And while Dern is always fun to watch, seeing Kasem in a featured "dramatic" role is an odd treat as well. Over-the-top acting and poor special effects actually work in its favor, giving it a kind of pop, comic book feel. There's also a shockingly inappropriate theme song called "It's Incredible" that truly, truly is. Slight and schlocky, "Incredible" is an enjoyable time-waster, especially as a second-billed feature. It's certainly nowhere near the greatness of "Bee Girls" or even the following years' "Thing with Two Heads," but does get by on its own funky charm.

The extras are an eclectic mix of cartoons and vintage television commercials. Thematically they have nothing to do with the features (save for an old theater concession cartoon), but are nevertheless interesting. Included is a great Superman cartoon that illustrates (no pun intended) how beautiful the old matinee shorts used to be. The commercials are for children's toys, the best of which is for something called The Witch Doctor Head Shrinker's Kit. A cool "boy craft" that allowed one to create gruesome, detailed decapitated heads; just like a real witch doctor! The quality of every extra on the disc is just as poor as the two features but, again, with the price so low who's going to complain?

This Cat Com release is certainly worth searching out, if only for the poor, but rare, print of "Bee Girls." Hopefully some specialty house like Blue Underground will snatch up the rights and finally put out a print that does Ford and company proud.