The African Queen (1952)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  I'm conflicted with this one. This shouldn't be the case. It's Huston, Bogart, and Hepburn...in a period piece romantic action comedy. This should be a stone could classic that I'm in love with. Instead, I'm pleased by it, but also stunned at how not… More
  I'm conflicted with this one. This shouldn't be the case. It's Huston, Bogart, and Hepburn...in a period piece romantic action comedy. This should be a stone could classic that I'm in love with. Instead, I'm pleased by it, but also stunned at how not excellent this actually is. Set in German occupied Africa during World War I, the plot concerns a crusty, boozy river trader of a tramp steamer called The African Queen who agrees to take a zealous missionary back to civilization after German officers raid the village she and her brother were working in, burning it to the ground and leaving her as the sole survivor. Along the way, this odd couple have to contend with nature, the war, and one another, but eventually they do bond as you might expect...maybe. The set up is great, but the execution is what left me underwhelmed and a little disappointed. The leads are likeable (as actors), but their characters and performances are kinda blah and overdone. Had their been more weight to the script, and the characters been more darker and edgier, then this could have really had some bite to it. Maybe this is a film that truly does deserve a contemporary update. Also, some more dealing with the historical context of the setting woiuld have been great too. At least is was shot on location, which was a rare thing in those days. The setting and location shooting are great, the cinematography is decnt, but I kidna wishd this was in black and white...it would have added some needed grit to the proceedings. I didn't hate this, but it really came off as silly, which is an adjective that doesn't need to be used ot describe a project involving the cast and crew here. It's decent, but not as exciting and awesome as it truly could have been.

• Daniel P

  
  The circumstances around the making of this film are almost as good of a story as the movie itself, being one of the first independent films to truly succeed, and to feature "old" people, (Bogart and Hepburn, both seeking to reclaim their careers in the wake of the McCarthy… More
  The circumstances around the making of this film are almost as good of a story as the movie itself, being one of the first independent films to truly succeed, and to feature "old" people, (Bogart and Hepburn, both seeking to reclaim their careers in the wake of the McCarthy era). The African Queen uses a deceptively simple plot about taking a decrepit old tub up the river and out of a war zone to tell its actual story: that of an unlikely romance between the grizzled Canadian ex-pat, Charlie, and the prim and proper missionary, Rose. Given that the action takes place at the beginning of the First World War, the potential for tragedy is high, but as explained in the DVD's special features, the ending was rewritten three times, the last one when Huston finally realized that despite the novel it's based on, the film he had made was a comedy. As Scorsese comments, "You can really only edit what you have," and what came through on the film was a genuine chemistry between two talented leads, which makes for a wonderful film. It's a bit talky by today's standards, and the technology's far from seamless in a lot of scenes, but it's an unassailable classic, and it should definitely be on your bucket list.

• Jim H

  
  A boat captain and a missionary must evade Nazis and nature on their way down an African river. The highlight of this film is Humphrey Bogart's performance. In an industry in which actors too often get cast as and play themselves, Bogart's performance is a departure from… More
  A boat captain and a missionary must evade Nazis and nature on their way down an African river. The highlight of this film is Humphrey Bogart's performance. In an industry in which actors too often get cast as and play themselves, Bogart's performance is a departure from his normal character. He laughs like a hyena, and imitates other animals; in a phrase, he's "not cool" - the definition of cool that he exemplified in <i>Casablanca</i>. I've always found Katharine Hepburn annoying, and while her fans will find plenty to like about her work here, I continue to cringe every time I hear her voice. Her character is often a bitch, and she plays this part well. Stuck on a boat, battling bugs and rapids, the film's characters must hold our attention, and by and large, they do so. Overall, <i>The African Queen</i> is canonical for a reason, but for me that reason is solely Bogart, deservedly a screen legend.

• Spencer S

  
  A classic film with its own regard among critics and movie goers alike, much of the hoopla attributed to this film was because of the time it was made and has since waned in popularity. Though it still retains a beauty that cannot be replicated by time, effects, or storytelling, it is… More
  A classic film with its own regard among critics and movie goers alike, much of the hoopla attributed to this film was because of the time it was made and has since waned in popularity. Though it still retains a beauty that cannot be replicated by time, effects, or storytelling, it is still a film that does not stand the test of time like other Hepburn and Bogart films. Much of the leftover silliness comes from the story that everything is hinged upon. It's such an unbelievable premise, sinking a large steamer headed by the Germans in the First World War using a tug boat, that the ensuing acting is a bit overzealous. The true motivation behind why the marmish old maid Rosie (Hepburn) is uncertain, other than blatant nationalism and her unglaring faith in Christianity, is lost upon the audience. Though these womanly sensibilities aren't completely unrealistic, it's the fact that she sees everything through with such gusto that rids us of any believability that she is in fact timid or at least sweet hearted. Besides that the casting of Hepburn makes little sense. Her roles have always commanded both a weightful presence and feminist view or were so subtle and beautiful yet strong headed. Playing someone unfamiliar to herself came off as forced and unbearably tortured. The balance of the film came with the presence of Charlie (Bogart) as a crone of a ship's captain with a heart of gold. Why he immediately lets her onto his boat isn't certain except that he's a human being with abject sympathy and a conscience. I think this entire film would have worked out all for the better if he were more of a curmudgeon, or surly in some way. If he were more grating on the Christian woman that Hepburn plays so well instead of this meandering, misbelieving vagrant it would have been the classic love/hate relationship that would have been perfect for this story. They briefly disagree over the decision to sink the ship, but it goes Rosie's way pretty quickly. They never really do more than disagree. There are no fights, no exceptional problems to be solved except for their tirade against the rapids, waterfalls, and the wildlife of Africa. That's what makes the film work: the setting. The time period and setting make for gorgeous tracking shots of the African coastline, showing animals that include alligators, lions, flies, and shots of different birds. The flowers, trees, and rivers are distinct and, with the color, pop considerably. The romance between the two leads was a bit silly, but the gestures to which they show their undying devotion to one another make any girl swoon. Classic in some senses, it's still a lesser Huston film.

• Reid V

  
  A whimsical, sexually-charged adventure. While not a complete disaster, certainly not Huston's best work.

• Graham J

  
  One of the most fun and exciting movie experiences I've had, The African Queen is another masterwork by Huston and Bogart.

• danny d

  
  similar to wages of fear, only less "fearful", the african queen is a truly iconic film. despite the small cast, simple script, basic premise, and singular location, the film is entertaining and fast paced. bogart is great, hapburn is less annoying than usual, and the film… More
  similar to wages of fear, only less "fearful", the african queen is a truly iconic film. despite the small cast, simple script, basic premise, and singular location, the film is entertaining and fast paced. bogart is great, hapburn is less annoying than usual, and the film shines with rewatchability.

• Jens S

  
  An adventure film from a different era, with two of the biggest stars of that time. The great chemistry between Bogart and Hepburn carries this film, their dialogs are spot on. But also the cinematography and setting of the film, with the boat almost being a third character, adds to… More
  An adventure film from a different era, with two of the biggest stars of that time. The great chemistry between Bogart and Hepburn carries this film, their dialogs are spot on. But also the cinematography and setting of the film, with the boat almost being a third character, adds to the wonderful atmosphere of actually being on a river in Africa. Maybe the romance goes a little too smoothly, while the fighting of the two protagonists is more fun, but that's just how it used to be. Of course the film feels dated today, but it still is so very charming and entertaining.

• Jennifer X

  
  This was a lot rougher than I initially anticipated, but with that said, I think the style meshes well with the overlying narrative. It's nice to see Katharine Hepburn play a real bitch for a change instead of a tough as walls woman of the world or dizzy dame - and by bitch I… More
  This was a lot rougher than I initially anticipated, but with that said, I think the style meshes well with the overlying narrative. It's nice to see Katharine Hepburn play a real bitch for a change instead of a tough as walls woman of the world or dizzy dame - and by bitch I mean annoying as hell.

• AJ V

  
  I really like this movie, it's a romantic adventure with two great actors, and they're great together. If you're a fan of either of them you should see this movie.

• Jon L

  
  This was a fun one to watch. It was quite minimalistic and really focused on character. Acted by anyone else this film could have fallen flat, but it was extremely well done by both the filmmakers and the actors. For classic film lovers, this is one to watch.

• Conner R

  
  I really like this a lot and for the most part I agree with everyone's love for it, but I don't think it's without flaws. The use of color is amazing, that's probably its strongest suit. As well as it actually being shot in Africa. Humphrey Bogart and Katharine… More
  I really like this a lot and for the most part I agree with everyone's love for it, but I don't think it's without flaws. The use of color is amazing, that's probably its strongest suit. As well as it actually being shot in Africa. Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn do a great job together, they're chemistry feels real and they work on each other's strengths well. Where it sort've gets flat to me is with the story. It just doesn't feel strong enough to carry all the stars and expectations when it comes to John Huston. It starts off well, but then sort've dips off. Overall it's still a good movie, it just isn't as good as it could've been in my opinion.

• Aaron N

  
  Charlie: We can't do that! Rose: How do you know? You never tried it. Charlie: Well, yeah, but I never tried shooting myself in the head neither. A well made, well acted adventure romance story. Bogart and Hepburn are both great in this very good looking movie set in Africa.… More
  Charlie: We can't do that! Rose: How do you know? You never tried it. Charlie: Well, yeah, but I never tried shooting myself in the head neither. A well made, well acted adventure romance story. Bogart and Hepburn are both great in this very good looking movie set in Africa. Director John Huston makes the most of his setting, filming in color to fully show off the environment, and still managing to make the whole film very enjoyable. At the start of World War I, Charlie Allnut, played by Humphrey Bogart, is using his old steamer, The African Queen, to ferry supplies to villages in East Africa. When a village Reverend dies, Charlie agrees to take his sister, Rose, played by Katharine Hepburn, back to civilization, possibly forming a plan to take on the Germans at the same time. This film works for numerous reasons, starting with the solid chemistry between to of the greatest actors of all time. Certainly helping is that both characters are well defined over the course of this picture. Bogart adds more elements to his usual cool persona, having to deal with the troubles of the jungle, along with his desire for liquor. Hepburn is certainly no damsel in distress, as she is constantly coming up with logical ways to help out in a situation and learning to embrace her surroundings. The scenery is also just great to look at. I say this after having watched a fully restored version of this film on Blu Ray, which was phenomenal. Knowing that filming in color required some pretty unwieldy cameras back in the 50s, credit goes to Huston for really wanting to make the most out of this story, and it certainly paid off. The overall story is just a lot of fun too. It leads to an interesting idea, which could almost be seen as a suicide mission, with Hepburn convinced she can use Bogart's ship as the perfect weapon against the Germans. Add to that the elements of their setting to hold them back and cause great difficulties, and its a very entertaining feature to behold. Very good film. Charlie Allnut: How'd you like it? Rose Sayer: Like it? Charlie Allnut: White water rapids! Rose Sayer: I never dreamed... Charlie Allnut: I don't blame you for being scared - not one bit. Nobody with good sense ain't scared of white water... Rose Sayer: I never dreamed that any mere physical experience could be so stimulating!

• First L

  
  It's of no small consequence that 95% of this film features just two actors on the screen. With lesser actors, the film might've been just average, but with Bogart and Hepburn, we are left with an enduring classic. The African Queen is actually a steamboat captained by… More
  It's of no small consequence that 95% of this film features just two actors on the screen. With lesser actors, the film might've been just average, but with Bogart and Hepburn, we are left with an enduring classic. The African Queen is actually a steamboat captained by Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart). He navigates the rivers of deepest Africa, and delivers the mail to the missionaries. Rose Sayer (Hepburn) is one such missionary, who is left abandoned in the jungle as the german army conscripts the natives at the outbreak of WWI. Charlie rescues her, and she immediately concocts a scheme to use the African Queen to sink the largest german warship in the continent of Africa. The bulk of this film takes place on the deck of the boat, and I can easily imagine it being adapted to the stage, but John Huston's direction gives the film it's earthy sense of realism and makes it such an epic adventure. Maybe the romance between the two characters feels a little forced at times, and maybe that's intentional. When two people are forced to experience a hardship together, well maybe they can't help but feel connected (Did Adam truly love Eve, or was it just because there was no one else around?). A flawless movie.

• Anthony L

  
  Regarded as one of the greatest love stories of all time, nominated for 4 Oscars and 2 Baftas, rated as the 201st best film of all time and is loved by millions around the globe. Its script is poor, the direction is shoddy and Bogart & Hepburn have never overacted so much in the… More
  Regarded as one of the greatest love stories of all time, nominated for 4 Oscars and 2 Baftas, rated as the 201st best film of all time and is loved by millions around the globe. Its script is poor, the direction is shoddy and Bogart & Hepburn have never overacted so much in the whole of their careers. I hate it and I don?t really understand all the fuss!

• Tim S

  
  If you're in the mood for an old-fashioned and somewhat unorthodox love story, look no further than The African Queen. Directed by John Huston, this little gem of a movie has so much going on it that it's easy to get lost in it. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine… More
  If you're in the mood for an old-fashioned and somewhat unorthodox love story, look no further than The African Queen. Directed by John Huston, this little gem of a movie has so much going on it that it's easy to get lost in it. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn (in their one-time screen pairing), it's a match made in...well...made in Africa. Charlie, played by Bogart, is the captain of the steamboat The African Queen, working for a minister and his sister Rose, played by Katharine Hepburn, in the heart of Africa. During the film WWI breaks out, forcing the characters to try and outrun the Germans and make it up river to the sea. Along their way, they find trouble, adventure and each other. Bogart gives a wonderful performance. It's so wonderful in fact it was his first to earn an oscar nomination, which he subsequently won. Katharine Hepburn is her usual quirky self, giving Bogart a rough time of it. The rest of the cast is pretty sparse, save for Robert Morley, who plays a rather tragic role. The look of the film is decently lush, wish lots of colorful landscape and wildlife. It can be a little flat at times but it's really lovely to look at. The score of the film I felt was a little lacking. Mostly lush and period, it really didn't play much of a dramatic role for a dramtic story, particularly during some of the film's final moments. But overall, the film is mostly good with some nice dramatic and comedic material. It won't please all modern audiences (most classics like it don't), but it is a really nice love story with some plentiful comedic and dark moments.

• Jason S

  
  Really good with excellent performances from all involved.

• Tom E

  
  Another of the greatest movies of all time -- Both Kate and Bogie give their best --

• Ken S

  
  Awesome adventure film from John Huston. It's great to see Katherine Hepburn have the stick pulled out of her ass

• xGary X

  
  The prim sister of a missionary, who is killed when the German army come to their small corner of Africa, convinces a pragmatic boat's captain to help her sink the German's nearby destroyer. The story is a simple one, but this film is all about the c...(read more)haracters,… More
  The prim sister of a missionary, who is killed when the German army come to their small corner of Africa, convinces a pragmatic boat's captain to help her sink the German's nearby destroyer. The story is a simple one, but this film is all about the c...(read more)haracters, who are wonderfully written and perfectly played by two of the very best actors who ever graced the silver screen. Hepburn and Bogart bring a tangible sense of warmth and affection as their feelings grow for each other, Bogie displaying his rarely seen but keen sense for comedy. The visual effects have obviously dated rather badly, but it has more depth and romance than a hundred Hugh Grant or Andie McDowell films. Another classic from John Huston.

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