The African Queen

• Directed by John Huston
• December 26, 1951 (Fox Wilshire Theatre)
• Based on the 1935 novel The African Queen by C. S. Forester

During WWI in East Africa a riverboat captain is convinced by an English missionary to travel a dangerous river and use his boat to take on a German gunship.

A film directed by John Huston starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn with support from Robert Morley, Walter Gotell, and a number of great character actors? How can you go wrong? You cannot. The last two names may not resonate with people, but they are were gifted character actors who always gave their best. Their presence honestly raised my expectations. Hepburn and Bogart alone were signs of talent, but The African Queen was filled stem to stern with it. Sorry for the unintended joke.

The story is an adventure narrative but delves into the costs of war on the innocent. The African Queen is as much about the characters as it is about the events they experience. You are held by the expert direction of John Houston and the talent on the screen. That talent is largely the presence of Bogie and Hepburn as the characters Charlie Allnut and Rose Sayer respectively while they struggle to survive and escape since they ARE the main cast.

Bogart, one of the great actors of American Cinema, in the beginning has an okay performance which improves once the obligatory romance begins. For my tastes his character of Charlie is initially too much of a jerky guy and a little bit of a comedic slob but in response to his growing attraction he cleans himself up as best as he can and the character acts a little bit more like a concerned tough guy than he does an unkempt pig.

Rose is the boss of the situation. She is the leader with Charlie being the brawn though that might be a bit simplistic of a description. She’s the one that pushes and leads with Charlie at first reluctantly following along before letting her steer things very willingly. She’s not only his equal but his complement. What one cannot do the other can. Their discussions and solving of problems occurs because each contributes something. As leader it is Rose’s can do attitude that keeps things moving.

If you know anything her upbringing, you understand it was not hard for Hepburn to play a somewhat aristocratic woman even if that woman has followed her brother to Africa and as far from civilization as one could get at the time. Her move from looking down on Charlie to love is quite smooth and natural.

By default Hepburn and Bogart carry a great deal of the movie. The story is of two distinct personalities clashing yet coming together. Not a unique plot element even then but with Bogart as the uncouth Charlie and Katharine Hepburn as the upper class Rose they make it special. Originally Charlie was to have a heavy cockney accent and Bogart wisely refused. Unlike some actors he understood his limitations.

Huston pushed the envelope at times. When romance blooms between the two there are moments of distinct comedic sexual innuendo. This was in the 50s and they could only do so much. You cannot miss it. When you see it your jaw may drop but you will certainly get a laugh out of the moment. It is obvious to adults but the kids will not get it.

Because of the acting of the leads and the directing of John Huston there’s plenty of excitement, despite any noticeable technical limitations of the time. Whether it be passing by the German fort or traveling down the rapids there’s a sense of danger and concern that things may not work out. Success in the situation is equal parts dumb luck and the skill of the duo. Huston kept the characters surviving but never made them unrealistically capable. The story is harrowing and there’s plenty of highs and lows in it.

The ending that you believe is coming in the closing minutes would’ve been a fine ending. It would’ve been very downbeat and tragic but would have worked with the film. The African Queen would’ve been a great romance cut short by terrible yet authentic feeling circumstances. That last minute save gave viewers a happy ending but also a rousing finish. It worked with elements that came before and just hit all the right notes.

This may be a classic (and it certainly is) but some of the effects used to accomplish certain elements do not pass the modern sniff test. The photographic effects and merging of shots can be noticeable. There is an early shot of the film where Rose’s brother Reverend Samuel Sayer (Robert Morley) is tending to his garden while speaking to Rose and they’re clearly not outside or even a set.

Then there are some elements done distinctly on a set. Mostly noticing them is due to the lighting which I’m sure was easier to hide in lower definition material. Then there’s the initial shot of going down the rapids, which looks like a combination of live footage some kind of mockup and rear projection. I guess my point is high definition 2K or 4K is not always good.

Technical shortcomings revealed by modern technology aside, The African Queen is a fantastic movie. There is passion and romance and excitement and danger and the finish that will leave you cheering. A must see!