THE AFRICAN QUEEN

DIRECTED BY JOHN HUSTON 1951

DVD REVIEW 2001

INTRODUCTION

I am now going to say something that shows my age,
“They don’t make them like they used to!!”

When it comes to classic films like ‘African Queen’, I’m sure that you know what I mean.

In this film we have

1. A love story
2. An adventure
3. War-time heroism
4. Two great screen icons
So, it’s almost 60 years old – well so am I – I was one when this film was made!

The director, John Huston, son of Walter Huston and father of Angelica Huston directed 45 films in 36 years.
Huston personified the Hollywood star – he was flamboyant, colourful and artistic. He wrote 37 films and acted in 64 more, on top of his directing. His career as a director had a habit of picking up just when everyone believed he had made his last good film. ’The African Queen’ was a very popular film and a box office hit that revived his career. And it has remained popular for almost sixty years.

The story for the film comes from CS Forester’s 1935 novel and was adapted for the screen by James Agee and the director John Huston.
The film was due to be filmed in 1938, with Bette Davis and David Niven chosen for the lead roles. When the Second World War started the film was put on hold, and after a few other names were toyed with – Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn eventually took the roles.
This was the fourth of five films that Huston would make with Bogart and his only one with Hepburn

The filming took place in Shepperton studios in London, and locations included the Congo, Danwar, Uganda, Zaire, Turkey and the Los Angeles Arboretum!

THE PLOT

The time is 1914, at the outset the First World War
The setting is German-controlled central-east Africa.
Our hero, played by Bogart, is Canadian Charlie Allnut, a rough, middle-aged, gin-loving river trader, who delivers supplies up and down the Ulonga-Bora River in his dilapidated little steamboat named the "African Queen, On his way to a mine located along the river, he stops to visit a small missionary outpost, run by British Reverend Samuel Sayer (Robert Morley) and his sister Rosie (Katherine Hepburn)
Samuel and Rosie know the Germans are there but think themselves immune as they minister to the natives, but when the Germans arrive they burn the huts and take the natives, conscripting them into service. Samuel suffers a blow to the head when he confronts the officers, and dies shortly after.

Rosie is a stiff, middle-aged and somewhat self-righteous spinster; Charlie offers to take her somewhere safe on his boat
Charlie is happy to “sit out the war” in the backwaters, living on the supplies on his boat (mainly gin) Rose though suggests a more foolhardy plan, she suggests that they go down river and try to sink the German gunboat that commands the area, so blocking a British invasion.
Charlie’s reaction to Rose's courageous if not foolish scheme was "Lady, you got ten absurd ideas for my one."

This boat trip seems a disaster waiting to happen. Gin turns Charlie into a sloppy drunk, and Rosie, well, she needs to loosen up a bit.
Rosie dumps the gin.
Nature does the rest.

This is an adventurous trip, in which these two people, who had all but given up having a relationship, find each other. At first they seem opposites, but there is a chemistry that is tremendously stirring, to bring these two opposites together.

Do they manage to survive the strife of white water rapids, a garrison of German soldiers, battles with swarming insects, and each other?
There may be some of you who have avoided this film so far, so I’ll save the ending for you!

CAST AND PERFORMANCES

Humphrey Bogart as Charlie Allnut

This role won Bogart his only Oscar.

This character is a drunken sot, charming, a bit of a rascal, but always a good guy. When he gradually changes in his affection for Rosie it is a change that begins slowly and then shows in every gesture and look.
He excelled as the harassed middle-aged, Canadian, an initially dirty but likeable waster who becomes a man and a lover against his will.

Katherine Hepburn as Rose Sayer

Hepburn could play any role and play it well, even though she lived her personal life on her own terms, and did not let Hollywood control her. She too was nominated for an Oscar for this film.
She started out, in this film stiff, pompous and proper as only a spinster missionary could. But she showed the characteristic fire and courage that made her and Charlie realize that together they could try anything.

Her character does loosen up a bit by the end of the film, but this film never turns into a smarmy love story, but instead revolves around a real possibility of two people meeting and falling in love, who first, have a mission to complete.
Hepburn is a class act. She could do any role and do it well, even though she lived her personal life on her own terms, and did not let Hollywood control her.

Robert Morley as Reverend Samuel Sayer

Sayer plays the British missionary, it is surprising how much he gives about this character in such a short time.

Peter Bull as Captain of The Louisa

Toward the end of the movie he makes an important appearance, at least as regards the plot. He also utters the best line in the film, and one of the best lines in films generally, I shan’t give it here as it rather gives the ending away.

OSCARS

The film received four Oscar nominations.

Actor: Humphrey Bogart
Actress: Katharine Hepburn
Director: John Huston
Screenplay: John Agee and John Huston

Out of these only Humphrey Bogart received an Oscar, as Best Actor.

CAST AND CREDITS

Cast

Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart)
Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn)
Reverend Samuel Sayer (Robert Morley)
Captain of the Louisa (Peter Bull)
First Officer of the Louisa (Theodore Bikel)
Second Officer (Walter Gotell)
Petty Officer (Gerlad Onn)
First Officer of the Shona (Peter Swanwick)
Second Officer (Richard Marner)

Credits

Produced by S.P. Eagle (Sam Spiegel)
Directed by John Huston.
Screenplay: James Agee and Huston, based on the novel by C. S. Forester.
Cinematographer: Jack Cardiff.
Music: Alan Gray, played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Norman Del Mar.
Film Editing: Ralph Kemplen
Art Director: Wilfred Shingleton.

Running time: 105 Minutes.

IN CONCLUSION

I was almost afraid to watch this movie again. Films that you’ve enjoyed in the past often they don’t live up to expectations! But The African Queen was a treat, from start to finish. It is just as good now as it was almost 60 years ago. Let’s face it, what is not to like?
I do know that a lot of people criticise the film because of historical inaccuracies, does this REALLY matter, it is a film !!!

If you thought about this film you wouldn’t think it would make such a classic -- an unshaven, unkempt, and usually less than sober hero. A heroine in
Hepburn, who was well into her forties and at an age when Hollywood usually abandons such actresses. But these two actors played fabulously well against type, each bringing out the best in the other, both as actors and as characters in the story.

Even for the age of the film I found it refreshing and easy to watch. There was enough humour, great characters, wonderful scenery and the excitement of incredible adventure to keep me interested throughout. My only (slight) criticism is that the beginning of the film is a bit drawn out. What comes later, though, is enthralling enough to make you forget it.

Overall this is a wonderful film that deserves the use of the word ‘Classic’, it mixes adventure, romance, humour, and breath-taking imagery of exotic locations.

DVD

The picture quality on the DVD is a little grainy in parts, but the transfer isn’t too bad for a film of its age, the sound is fine.

Details
· Format: Full Screen, PAL
· Language English, German, Swahili
· Region: Region 2 Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
· Number of discs: 1
· Classification: U
· Studio: ITV DVD
· DVD Release Date: 16 Jul 2001
· Run Time: 101 minutes

The special features on the DVD are

Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Commentary by Jack Cardiff, the cinematographer, this is quite interesting as it tells about the problems of filming in Africa.
Original Theatrical Trailer – this is funny as it is so dated.
Biographies
Stills Gallery