The African Queen (1951)

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.

Click to see when The African Queen is coming up on TV.

Cast

Humphrey Bogart		Charlie Allnut
Katharine Hepburn		Rose Sayer
Robert Morley		Rev. Samuel Sayer
Peter Bull		Captain of Louisa
Theodore Bikel		First Officer
Walter Gotell		Second Officer
Peter Swanwick		First Officer of Shona
Richard Marner		Second Officer of Shona
Errol John
Gerald Onn		Petty Officer
John von Kotze		German Officer