Review of The African Queen (1952) by Movie M — 08 Nov 2012

Filled with adventure, romance, drama, comedy, there is no shortage of variety in this John Huston-helmed smorgasbord of classic cinematic themes. Adapted from the popular 1935 C.S. Forester novel, "The African Queen" showcases an early 1900s East African scene in the beginning of the World War I German occupation. Humphrey Bogart earned his gold starring as a man's man of a goofball river boat captain who picks up a stranded English missionary (Katherine Hepburn) after the village she was helping is decimated. Together they embark on a mission down the windy African rivers where they fight off the elements, the enclosing Germans, and their cheeky feelings for one another. All of this culminating with the task of turning the captain's boat, "The African Queen" into a large torpedo aimed directly at an enemy warship that is stalking one of the larger lakes in the area. . . For its time, the film is one helluva spectacle and sported some of the early stages of when films were transitioning to color. This obviously enhanced the main point of the film, which was to really show off the wonders of the African jungle. What really stole the show though was ol "Bogie", who usually so calm and charming, turned himself into the most likable "Gilligan"-esque dweeb ever to navigate such a treacherous scene with a damsel on his arm. Hepburn reciprocates this by portraying the sheltered church girl awakened by adventure and acts accordingly in a just as awkward way. They swoon for each other the way a child goes for their teddy bear. It's innocent and trades off with sweet as well as cheesy with just a hint of danger to keep the audience guessing. . .

Humphrey "Bogie" Bogart's Grade: B (I still prefer him in the more suave roles).

Film Grade: B.