John Huston's The Africian Queen is a film that has everything -- adventure, humor, spectacular photography and superb performances.
The African Queen (1951)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:27
Fresh:27
Rotten:0
Average Rating:8.6/10
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
US Box Office: $0
Synopsis: The boozing, smoking, cussing captain of a tramp steamer, Charlie Allnut, saves prim and proper Rose Sayer after her brother is killed by German soldiers at the beginning of World War I in Africa.... The boozing, smoking, cussing captain of a tramp steamer, Charlie Allnut, saves prim and proper Rose Sayer after her brother is killed by German soldiers at the beginning of World War I in Africa. Many quarrels later, the two set sail on the Ulonga-Bora in order to sabotage a German ship. Based on the 1935 novel by C.S. Forester, the wonderful combination of Hepburn and Bogie (who won an Oscar) makes this a thoroughly enjoyable blend of comedy and adventure. Later came the book (and Clint Eastwood film) White Hunter, Black Heart, which chronicled Peter Viertel's experiences observing Huston throughout the making of the picture. [More]
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Theodore Bikel
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Theodore Bikel, Walter Gotell, Richard Marner, Peter Bull
Director: John Huston
Director: John Huston
Story: C.S. Forester
Producer: Sam Spiegel
Screenwriter: James Agee, John Huston
Composer: Allan Gray
Reviews for The African Queen
Despite being 50 years old, there is still something refreshing about watching The African Queen.
Bogie and Hepburn, a dynamic duo! A love story, adventure story and comedy, all rolled into one rollicking and perilous river ride. You never get tired watching it.
And so Mr. Huston merits credit for putting this fantastic tale on a level of sly, polite kidding and generally keeping it there, while going about the happy business of engineering excitement and visual thrills.
There are not two better actors to tackle these roles, and director Huston keeps their story moving without lulls.
The direction is often questionable, but the screenplay (by James Agee, John Collier, Huston, and Peter Viertel from C.S. Forester's novel) is a model of tight construction.
Both of the actors who portray protagonists -- Bogart and Hepburn -- were past their prime when they made this film, but they gave superb performance nevertheless, often using humour to make their on-screen chemistry more believable.
Huston's romantic adventure, one of the most admired movies in American history, contains iconic performances by Bogart, in his only Oscar-winning role, and Katharine Hepburn.
One of the best pictures of all time. Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn have remarkable chemistry, and the picture is a career highlight for each.
...a totally delightful and entirely engrossing romance, filled with comedy, action, and adventure.
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