Review of The African Queen (1952) by Jordan L — 28 May 2012

The restoration from 2009 is top notch, so the majority of the film looks like it was shot around 1990. It is a very naturalistic cinematography that surely influenced the likes of Herzog and Malick. Lots of shots of water plants and such.

The story is compelling and very allegorical, about life in general, especially married life, and it has nice little humorous and realistic touches throughout, but the movie is highly dated, most notably in the acting of the two leads, neither of whom I was impressed with in any way, but both of whom were hugely lauded at the time.

Since they completely dominate the film and there are literally no other characters for most of the screen time, the acting is the dominant way by which I perceive the movie. Also there is the whole hate to love thing, except the hate is never there and the love is too easy.

I don't hold it in the highest regard with some other classics. Perhaps this is merely a generation gap.