The African Queen (1951)
The African Queen (1951)
John Huston’s The African Queen is one of those movies that you always hear about. Perhaps you have heard about it so much, you avoided the movie at all costs…much in the way that I did. How on earth could I have missed this film considering I am a major film buff and I am a sucker for these adventure stories. Also, I wonder why it took me so long because the films from the past half-century definitely considered this film a major influence. Maybe not Katherine Hepburn’s finest performance, but I thought the film was fun and funny at times. Of course, why would anyone want to avoid any film with Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart?
Considering the film was released in 1951, it can almost be viewed as an independent picture. Most studios passed at the opportunity to finance the movie. Producer Sam Spiegel, who produced many epics over the year, had the script in his hands and offered John Huston the opportunity to direct the film. Unlike most films made at the time, this movie was shot on location, which made it a high-risk film (which eventually did pay off). The cast and crew made this Technicolor film in both Africa and England, which is where the beautiful cinematography comes from. It was famously known that everyone got sick…that is the exception of Bogart and Huston. Bogart reasoned that he did not drink the water and only the whiskey he took with him. If you notice in the beginning where Hepburn is playing the organ, she is sweating profusely and looks ill. It turns out that she was.
For the most part, the film follows two characters and is set on one location, the boat which was named The African Queen. This could have made more a complicated shoot, but Huston admirably handled it very well. Miss Rose Sayer (Katherine Hepburn) and her reverend brother are British missionaries living in Africa, spreading the word of God. This takes place during the onset of World War I, although they do not know much about it. They rely upon Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) and his steamboat for mail and supplies. Charlie is barely tolerated thanks to his alcoholism. When the Germans attack their missionary and Rose’s brother died, Charlie rescues Rose. Charlie wants to hide until the war is over, but Rose is determined to attack a German battleship upriver. With these two different personalities combating each other, will they be able to survive the war…and each other?
This movie gave both Hepburn and Bogart the opportunity to work with each other for the very first time. They both were excellent and had wonderful chemistry with each other. It is funny to see how excellent their performances are but are not even close to their best works. People got a shock seeing Bogart in color for the very first time and it is believed that worked positively towards his performance. Hepburn played a very determined, high-minded character and does so well. She won an Oscar for her performance.
The African Queen is a simple, yet effective adventure romance story. John Huston commanded his ship very well as he does not go overboard with his directing techniques. Since the movie was shot on location, Jack Cardiff’s cinematography is beautiful. Yes, that is the African sun we are seeing. I liked the film was set in the backdrop of the first World War, because it made for an incredibly thrilling end. The movie was more contemplative than I expected, so be prepared for that. Based off the famous C.S. Forester novel, The African Queen was adapted very well to the silver screen and I do recommend it if only to see the legendary duo of Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in a movie together.
My Grade: B+
John Huston’s The African Queen is one of those movies that you always hear about. Perhaps you have heard about it so much, you avoided the movie at all costs…much in the way that I did. How on earth could I have missed this film considering I am a major film buff and I am a sucker for these adventure stories. Also, I wonder why it took me so long because the films from the past half-century definitely considered this film a major influence. Maybe not Katherine Hepburn’s finest performance, but I thought the film was fun and funny at times. Of course, why would anyone want to avoid any film with Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart?
Considering the film was released in 1951, it can almost be viewed as an independent picture. Most studios passed at the opportunity to finance the movie. Producer Sam Spiegel, who produced many epics over the year, had the script in his hands and offered John Huston the opportunity to direct the film. Unlike most films made at the time, this movie was shot on location, which made it a high-risk film (which eventually did pay off). The cast and crew made this Technicolor film in both Africa and England, which is where the beautiful cinematography comes from. It was famously known that everyone got sick…that is the exception of Bogart and Huston. Bogart reasoned that he did not drink the water and only the whiskey he took with him. If you notice in the beginning where Hepburn is playing the organ, she is sweating profusely and looks ill. It turns out that she was.
For the most part, the film follows two characters and is set on one location, the boat which was named The African Queen. This could have made more a complicated shoot, but Huston admirably handled it very well. Miss Rose Sayer (Katherine Hepburn) and her reverend brother are British missionaries living in Africa, spreading the word of God. This takes place during the onset of World War I, although they do not know much about it. They rely upon Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) and his steamboat for mail and supplies. Charlie is barely tolerated thanks to his alcoholism. When the Germans attack their missionary and Rose’s brother died, Charlie rescues Rose. Charlie wants to hide until the war is over, but Rose is determined to attack a German battleship upriver. With these two different personalities combating each other, will they be able to survive the war…and each other?
This movie gave both Hepburn and Bogart the opportunity to work with each other for the very first time. They both were excellent and had wonderful chemistry with each other. It is funny to see how excellent their performances are but are not even close to their best works. People got a shock seeing Bogart in color for the very first time and it is believed that worked positively towards his performance. Hepburn played a very determined, high-minded character and does so well. She won an Oscar for her performance.
The African Queen is a simple, yet effective adventure romance story. John Huston commanded his ship very well as he does not go overboard with his directing techniques. Since the movie was shot on location, Jack Cardiff’s cinematography is beautiful. Yes, that is the African sun we are seeing. I liked the film was set in the backdrop of the first World War, because it made for an incredibly thrilling end. The movie was more contemplative than I expected, so be prepared for that. Based off the famous C.S. Forester novel, The African Queen was adapted very well to the silver screen and I do recommend it if only to see the legendary duo of Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in a movie together.
My Grade: B+
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