Review of The African Queen (1952) by Stu A — 01 Dec 2007

This memorable movie was the 4th joining of Director John Huston with Humphrey Bogart(after Across the Pacific, Treasure of Sierra Madre & Key Largo), and is their best work.

Humphrey stars as the loveable rogue 'Charlie Allnut' who ferries cargo and passengers on his small boat the 'African Queen'. Katharine Hepburn as 'Rose Sayer' is simply captivating and archetypal strong pioneering sister of the good reverand Samuel Sayer (Robert Morley). With war raging in 1914 Europe, the Germans also had control of large parts of Africa, and as they expand their influence, so to do our stars get caught up in a battle that can only end in disaster. The ending is a movie classic, but don't overlook the marvelous interactions between the gin swiller and bible thumper in this extraordinary 'love' story.