The African Queen [G]

In a small African village, a puritanical British spinster named Rose and her minister brother live and enrich the lives of the natives. But then World War breaks out and the Germans invade their village and destroy it, taking the natives captive so that they might serve their cause. When her brother is killed, Rose is forced to board the mail boat of a slovenly gin-soaked American named Charlie and, in order to escape from Africa, the two although not getting along at first, team up and devise an ingenious plan to destroy a German gunboat that sits between them and England. 

The story may be about the war and these two leading characters coming up with a plan to do their part for their country, but ultimately, what made The African Queen such a remarkable film was its overpowering and perfectly delicious love story between the two most unlikely of characters. Armed with empowering performances, wonderful, sweeping views of the African scenery, and a great atmospheric soundtrack, The African Queen was a beautiful film that I absolutely LOVED! 

In a small African village, a puritanical British spinster named Rose and her minister brother live and enrich the lives of the natives. But then World War breaks out and the Germans invade their village and destroy it, taking the natives captive so that they might serve their cause. When her brother is killed, Rose is forced to board the mail boat of a slovenly gin-soaked American named Charlie and, in order to escape from Africa, the two although not getting along at first, team up and devise an ingenious plan to destroy a German gunboat that sits between them and England. 

Without a doubt, the film belongs primarily to the two romantic leads. It’s really an actor’s movie; driven primarily on strong performances, which is to be expected as the majority of the film simply follows the two of them confined to the boat. 

The chemistry between Humphrey Bogart who played the slovenly, gritty, unshaven, and gin-swigging yank to perfection, and Katherine Hepburn who played the judgmental, pristine, and strong-willed puritanical heroine admirably, was just beautiful. Although the romantic passion that the two develop for one another is deliciously palpable, the leads are really at their most enjoyable when they are at each other’s throats. Their relationship is one that goes through almost all the stages of lifelong matrimony in the course of 100 minutes and it was gorgeous, simply juicy and GORGEOUS! 

Also starring Robert Morley, Peter Bull, Theodore Bikel, Walter Gotell, Peter Swanwick, and Richard Marner, The African Queen is a fabulous classic that’s filled with action, adventure, empowering determination, romance, drama, suspense, and comedy. It’s wonderfully balanced and harbours absolutely something for everyone; Bogart received the Academy Award for it and Katherine Hepburn, director John Hudson, and screenwriter James Agee were also nominated.