Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Don't Make The Mistake Of Taking This Film For Granted
THE AFRICAN QUEEN is probably one of the most widely available films in the world, on sale in the electronics department of virtually every major retail chain, a commonplace at every rental counter, frequently seen on television. It is hard to imagine any one in the western world, especially in the United States, who has not seen the film at least once--and probably more than once. And so we take it for granted. That is a mistake. Based on the famous C.S. Forester novel, which it follows quite closely, THE AFRICAN QUEEN is the simple story of pragmatic river-rat Charlie Allnut (Bogart) and high-minded Methodist missionary spinster Rose Sayer (Hepburn) who are thrown together by chance when German troups sweep through Africa during World War I. Once safely aboard his beat-up riverboat "The African Queen," Allnut desires nothing more than to dodge the Germans until war's end; Rose, however, determines to strike a blow against the Germans by sailing the boat downriver to attack a German battleship. There are so many fine things about this movie that they are hard to innumerate. Filmed on location in the Congo, the cinematography is remarkably fine without being obtrusive; the script, which is at once subtle and very purposeful, has a remarkably natural tone; the two stars--who play the vast majority of the film alone together--give justly famous performances; and Huston's direction is so fine that we never feel even the slightest hint of directorial manipulation. As an adventure, it has a sense of realism that most adventure stories lack; as a character study it is remarkably detailed and finely wrought; as a love story, it is quite touching without engaging in common sentimentality. And it can be enjoyed by many people of diverse backgrounds and ages without the faintest qualm. If you haven't seen THE AFRICAN QUEEN in a while (or heaven forbid never seen it at all) don't take it for granted thinking you'll catch it sooner or later. Sit down with the film and watch it with fresh eyes. You'll be amazed.
Rating: - Two Great Actors Make A Great Movie
Can two people carry an entire movie? When the two are Humphrey Bogart (who won an Oscar for this performance) and Katherine Hepburn (who did equally well but didn't get the Oscar), the answer is a resounding, "Yes!!" Bogart plays a beaten up riverboat (the "African Queen" is his boat) captain in Africa at the onset of World War One. Hepburn plays a spinster missionary who assists her brother, Robert Morley, in converting the locals to Christianity (or, at least, helps to get them singing hymns, whether they understand the words or not). After the Germans burn the church and kill her brother, Hepburn escapes with Bogart down the river aboard the African Queen. With memorable scene after memorable scene (leech attacks, German attacks, shooting the rapids and then shooting THE RAPIDS, disappearing tributaries, black fly attacks), John Huston directs these two veteran actors through a classic movie. Bogart starts off with many rough edges but gradually gets slightly tamed. Hepburn starts off very prudish, but gradually loosens up. They go from hating each other to getting married in a very predictable, but still realistic way. Adversity is the mother of romance. Buy this one and watch in every year (or more often) on a rainy afternoon or snowy evening. If it's a snowy evening, you might even feel better about the snow afterward.
Rating:  - A classic worth seeing in spite some limitations
Directed by John Huston from C.S. Forester's novel and adapted to the screen by James Agee, this 1951 film stars Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. It is set 1914 in an unnamed country in East Africa. Hepburn is an English spinster missionary whose brother dies as the result of a German raid. Bogart is a hard drinking Canadian riverboat captain who helps her get away on his 30-foot boat called "The African Queen". Hepburn is all spunk and spitfire and convinces Bogart attack the German ship. But before they do that that they have to travel the river and forced to overcome a variety of natural dangers. Hepburn faces these dangers as an equal partner to Bogart and not as some retiring and timid female. She steers the boat, dives underwater to make repairs, chops down tangled foliage with a machete and inspires Bogart with her courage. Naturally, they fall in love.Now, fifty years later, I look at this film with fresh perspective, especially since I had never seen it before. Bogart was 52 years old when it was made and was probably at the beginning of his illness. He just didn't seem to have the physical strength that the role called for or the good looks that made him so popular in his day. Perhaps it was the script, but some of his lines seemed awkward, and it surprised me that he won an academy award as Best Actor that year. Hepburn, who was 45 at the time, fared better. Her striking features, unique voice and personality added depth to her role. Both characters had to go through changes during the course of the film and, as it was a two-character movie, there was no break in their constant on-screen performances. Doing the special effects for this film had to be challenging. Often, they didn't work for me. Perhaps this was because so much of the film depended on showing Bogart and Hepburn grappling with the natural forces around them. I guess the director did his best with the techniques available at the time, but I must say I was distracted from the performances because much of the setting just didn't seem real. I'm trying my best not to judge these special effects by contemporary standards, but I can't help it if I live in the year 2001. Even within its limitations though , I definitely recommend this film. It is a classic worth seeing and a part of film history.
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