HotToastyRag
On the brink of WWI, a missionary, Robert Morley, and his sister, Katharine Hepburn, are working in the African Congo. When Germans occupy the territory and Robert is killed, Kate has no choice but to join the scruffy, far-from-pious Humphrey Bogart on his small riverboat "The African Queen", since it's their only means of transportation. From then on, it's basically a two-person show as the two navigate through the Congo and come up with a plan to join the war effort.While the initial cast choice was Bette Davis and David Niven, the on screen couple Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen is indelible in audiences' minds. It's impossible to imagine anyone else in the film, even though I absolutely love The Niv and the character was originally written to have a Cockney accent. Humphrey Bogart, playing a Canadian because he couldn't do the accent, is absolutely perfect in the role! He definitely deserved his Oscar, and no one would argue that it's the best performance of his career. He's sweet, funny, big-hearted, reluctantly passionate, and completely believable in his surroundings. David Niven is many things—handsome, debonair, classy—but none of his special talents would be needed in the part. The Charlie Allnut character needs to be uncouth. He needs to seem like he's really lived on a boat in Africa for years with gin as his only companion and love far from his mind. He needs to be Humphrey Bogart.But, on to Kate. Katharine Hepburn gives one of her best and classic performances as the straight-laced, religious spinster with an unexpected fiery passion. She's absolutely delightful, showing a range of emotions that are so believable it'll be hard to see her as anyone else in the future. She's logical and smart, but also sensitive and loving. The African Queen is one of my all-time favorite love stories—and old movies—because of the sweet, tender moments the unlikely pair share. From the awkward tea party in the beginning of the film when Humph's stomach can't stop growling to their first journey down the rapids and beyond, they'll make themselves a permanent home in your heart. After they've declared their love, Kate finally asks him what his first name is—it's so adorable! Upon hearing it, she smiles like a young girl and sweetly says, "What a nice name. Charlie. Charlie!" I could continue to quote all the lovely, adorable, memorable phrases from the romance, but you should really see them for yourself. Whether you end up adding "And you call yourself a Christian!" or "Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put on this earth to rise above" or "Then do so, Mr. Allnut" to your household phrases, I'm sure you'll love The African Queen just as much as I do. It's truly one-of-a-kind.
ironhorse_iv
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.
