The African Queen (1951)

HomeFilmThe African Queen
Missed another great programme?
DigiGuide can save your sanity by sending you SMS messages when your favourites programmes are on.
Click here to start SMS'ing now
Find that TV programme
Easily find programmes based on title, actor, or even what the programme is about.
Start power searching now

Written by C.S. Forester, James Agee

Directed by John Huston

Running Time: 105 minutes (approx)

Production Year: 1951

Rating: U Certificate

Production Country: UK/USA

Filmed in Colour

C.S. Forester's straightforward adventure story becomes a beautifully understated yet unforgettably steamy and tense thriller in the hands of director John Huston. Unusually Humphrey Bogart (the grimy, gin-swilling steamboat captain, Charlie Allnut) and Katharine Hepburn (the straight-laced missionary, Rose Sayer) never collaborated in any other movie, which is strange considering the chemistry between them here in this superb classic.

Set during the First World War, Rose Sayer's brother, a prim British missionary (Robert Morley), is killed by invading Germans who level their village. Allnut kindly offers to take Rose back to civilisation aboard his boat, but it's not the easiest of journeys. She can't tolerate his drinking or bad manners; he isn't crazy about her imperious, judgemental attitude. However it doesn't take long before their passionate dislike of each other turns to something else. Together the disparate duo work to ensure their survival on the treacherous waters and devise an ingenious way to destroy a German gunboat.

A tremendous must-see film, Bogart won an Oscar for Best Actor, the only one of his career. Highly recommended.

Cast

Image for Humphrey BogartHumphrey BogartCharlie Allnut
Image for Katharine HepburnKatharine HepburnRose Sayer
Image for Robert MorleyRobert MorleyRev. Samuel Sayer
Peter BullCap. of Louisa
Theodore BikelFirst Officer
Walter GotellSecond Officer
Peter SwanwickFirst Officer of Shona
Richard MarnerSecond Officer of Shona
Errol John
Gerald OnnPetty Officer
John von KotzeGerman Officer

Still looking for more?

 Click here to search the web for The African Queen

Add a comment

(required)
(required but not displayed)
Your e-mail is also used for adding an Avatar image to your comment using the free and very cool Gravatar.com
 
(your personal web site)

Please note we can not guarantee that programme makers will read your comment as we have no direct relationship with them, so requests for application forms will almost certainly be ignored (try searching Google instead). This is merely an opportunity to register opinions, questions or comments about a programme's content.