This was a great film featuring fine performances by the wonderful Katharine Hepburn as well as Humphrey Bogart. They are such legends that they can make their character's love appear believable, and allow for the film to be re-watchable even today. Hepburn conveyed such beautiful emotion, whether it be the expressions on her face or the tone in her dialogue. There were some odd moments, with a cheesy line here and there at the fault of the writer, not of any of the actors. I liked the allusion to the code, while the pair were going to sleep at night Hepburn, or Rosie, hung up two blankets to hide herself from Charles. There was a lot of good in this movie, from the acting to the great editing in the use of dissolve cuts. There seemed to be many medium shots and long shots, because the backgrounds were filled with amazing views. My favorite part of this film was that it was filmed in Africa, so this allowed for the director to include so many beautiful scenic shots. The foreshadowing at the end of the film was a nice touch, as their is a shot of a sinking boat, and right before the couple were to be hanged, the ship blows up. At the end, there is a shot of a piece of wood with the name of their ship "The African Queen," showing that they accomplished what they set out to do. Great film, and any film lover should watch this at least once.

The African Queen (1951), John Huston, is the story of a Christian missionary (Katharine Hepburn) who falls for a riverboat captain ( Humphrey Bogart) who is fond of liquor. I thought The African Queen was a merely "okay" movie. I thought the acting was done well enough, Bogart does a fine job. The writing was serviceable, but seemed rather typical. However I found the cinematography to be quite lacking in any engagement or creativity and that severely dragged down my appreciation for this as a film. It seems that it is just a regular Romantic Comedy that tries to play with a exotic location as it's main draw. It just fell flat for me.

Directed by John Huston & based on the 1935 novel of the same name by C. S. Forester, this call to adventure/romantic film tells the story of two mismatched personalities, rough-and-ready, but coarse, boat captain Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) & prissy and proper, British Methodist, Rose Sayer (Katherine Hepburn), colliding together on a tramp steamer, as both travel down steam on Ulanga River, in an attempt to escape from the German, during the start of World War 1. Without spoiling the movie, too much, while this movie is one of the classics of Hollywood adventure filmmaking. It is without a few faults. First off, the pacing for this movie is way off. Everything happen, way too quickly. A very good example is how the war was introduce in the opening. It's weird that Mr. Allnut would spill exposition about what was happening in Europe, only to leave, a few seconds before German soldiers raid the village. Wouldn't the troops, notice his ship!? After all, supposedly 'the African Queen' is wanted by the Germans. Another good example of the film, going too quickly, is how Katherine Hepburn's character comes off, too strong about taking vengeance against the German after the raid. For somebody who is in Christian missionary. She really does seem to want to kill a lot of people! She seems like a psychopath in certain scenes in this film. Also, it was a bit off that she knows a lot of information about making torpedoes for somebody living in a farm in the jungle of Africa, away from machinery. Then, you got Charlie; for a tough guy, he's such a push-over. He didn't even angry about all the gin, being poured out. Since, we are at it, it was a bit out of the blue, that alcoholic like himself, can quit, cold turkey, and be able to function, without much problems with withdrawal. You would think, he would get sick or something. Then, there is the love affair, Allnut & Sayer developed, in their short trip. It was a bit implausible. Don't get me wrong, I get that, being in consent danger, does force people to live for the moment, but I thought, the screenwriters: James Agee, John Huston, John Collier and Peter Viertel should, at least, leave some room for it to develop much slower. It's a bit off, that both were willing to die for each other and their country. After all, it's weird to see Charlie, be OK on using his only ship that he loved as a barring ram. Even, the ending was a bit awkward. Did they make it to Kenya or not!? Also, what happen to the rest of the sailors!? It's feel to me that they didn't have an ending pick, since rumor has it, they had three altered endings. Despite that jarring climax, there were a lot of good things about the film, as well. For starters, I like the fact that the movie was in color and mostly film in location in Uganda and the Congo. However, I did think the movie went, a little overboard on the animal sound effects. Trust me, the jungle isn't that noisy. Still, it did really help, the film by having Bogart and Hepburn there. I like how both of them, look sweaty and weather-beaten the entire film. It made the film look so accurate to what the climate is like. The acting of the two principal actors - Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn - is some of the strongest ever registered on film, even if Hepburn was playing her generic type of a character, a strong will woman & Bogart wouldn't pull off, a British cockney accent, so the character was rewritten as Canadian. While, both were still past their prime, both made their characters, likable to a point that I can look past, their faults and their age, even if their character's sexuality for each other was a bit uneasy to watch. After all, seeing rapids making Rose wet between the legs was not what I wanted. Despite that, I still glad to see that Bogart's role won him his only Oscar, while Hepburn would add yet another nomination to her impressive collection. It's also nice to see to John Huston get nominated for an award as well. I really don't know, how he finished directing the film, with all the production troubles like sickness, bad weather and animal attacks, his cast and crew, went through. Nevertheless, what they filmed were some of the best work, I ever saw in a small boat movie. It was so good that the movie was part of the inspiration for the Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland in California. Even the action sequences in the steamer were intense. Because of the dangers of the water, all of the scenes with the performers swimming in it, were filmed in the United Kingdom, including the rapid shots. Regardless, it made one hell of a ride! In the end, I have to say, if you like this movie, also check out the 1977 TV movie of the same name starring Warren Oates and Mariette Hartley. Rather than being a remake, the plot continues after the events of the original story, with the couple having to transport a 75 mm cannon, down the river. It's not as bad, as people make it out to be. Also, check out, 1990's film, 'White Hunter, Black Heart', which was loosely based on Peter Viertel's 1953 account of his experiences making the film. It's unique for what it is. Overall: I have to say, the film is accurate enough to the source material, and entertaining enough to be a call to adventure of a lifetime for all that watch. So pick it up! It's worth your time. It's a sweet ride.

Africa 1914; a camp housing a group of missionaries during World War 1 is burnt down by German Troops. Two of these missionaries are Christian Missionaries Rose Sayer & Reverend Samuel Sayer (Katharine Hepburn & Robert Morley) and sadly the shock of what happens to their village is too much for Reverend Sayer and he unfortunately dies the following day. Gin-swilling riverboat captain Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) suggests that he and Rose bury her brother's body and flee the camp as soon as possible before the Germans return. Although Charlie and Rose are two very different people they attempt to put their differences aside in order to avenge Rose's brother's death....Given that the majority of the film is spent with only 2 people sharing the screen it is fairly obvious that Director John Huston was reliant on the star power of Bogart and Hepburn to carry this film and ultimately win audiences over. Hats off to Huston because it seems that he has achieved this objective as this film is loved by a good deal of people, but for me it was a bit hit-and-miss...If we start with Bogart and Hepburn; yes I'm prepared to accept that they were both good together on-screen and yes they generally share good chemistry together, but are these things alone enough to make the film great?? I beg to differ I'm afraid. One thing I found disappointing is that Huston doesn't make this feel like much of an adventure film. Most of the time revolves around Bogart and Hepburn and their blossoming relationship, but this is all Huston really focuses on and although it is fun and interesting in fits and starts when the plot only focuses on one think it does make the film feel a bit monotonous at times. The picture is stronger in the second half when Rose and Charlie start working as a team to overcome problems that they encounter on their journey - these aspects make the film feel more focused and enjoyable and give the film its much needed sense of adventure. If we go back to Rose and Charlie's relationship, I kind of felt that there was a bit of an Odd Couple vibe between Charlie and Rose, but if I'm honest I felt that the switch between them hating each other and liking each other was a bit jarring and sudden and felt a little unnatural. The final part of the film where Charlie and Rose are effectively getting their revenge felt rushed and it would have been better if the planning of their attack would have featured more heavily rather than being merely tagged on at the end.The African Queen is notably the film where Bogart won his best actor award and whilst I'm pleased that he received it I can't honestly see how this performance really stands out from anything else I've seen him in - he was good but Oscar worthy??? Hepburn is an equal match for Bogart and their chemistry and camaraderie does make up slightly for the thin and rather uneven plotting.The African Queen is an OK film but when all is said and done I can't really see why everyone is so in love with it?? It's a thinly plotted film with too much romance and not enough adventure and for me is another disappointingly over-hyped 'classic film.'