Review of The African Queen (1952) by Dustin D — 19 Feb 2014

Since The African Queen was the only film Humphrey Bogart won an Academy Award for acting in and because it featured the efforts of Katharine Hepburn's acting and John Huston's directing I couldn't miss it.

The African Queen is more than obviously a very dated film because it's visual effects leave a clear green outline on the figures in front if the green screen. And is also clearly done on a low budget, and yet it still hits its entertainment value well.

The story in The African Queen is a simple one about an adventure two characters embark on, and it truly has the feel of a classic adventure theme since the atmosphere is intense at times and the musical score feels really convincing to the jungle adventure genre that the film entails. It's not hard to see what makes The African Queen a classic.

Thanks to John Huston's direction it all feels very genuine. The adventure proves to he an interesting one and even a thrilling one in The African Queen, and it is full of fine quality cinematography and beautiful scenery which makes it feel like a real story, even on such a low budget. John Huston's direction proves to carry the thin story in The African Queen a long way, and he makes it a memorable visual experience.

And combined with C. S. Forester's own screenplay adapted on the novel he wrote himself, there ends up being plenty of cleverly conceived material for the cast of The African Queen to work with.

Humphrey Bogart is at some of his most playfully energetic as well and dedicated in The African Queen, and even though his performance isn't the most sophisticated of his career, it still has an amiable charm of life to it in the line delivery he gets right at every second and his iconic smile. Humphrey Bogart carries the story in The African Queen well.

Katharine Hepburn's charm is tenacious as usual in The African Queen, and she has a marvellous spirit and strength to her ensures that Rose Sayer is a fiercely confident character who convincingly charters the waters with Charlie Allnut in The African Queen. Katharine Hepburn's dedication to character pays off once again, and she proves to work alongside Humphrey Bogart greatly. Her performance is the true greatest of the film and it's some of her most energetic acting, both emotionally and physically.

The chemistry between these two is appealing because there is always a special romantic and dramatic tension between them as they are both aged people taking a journey together which becomes a life changing adventure. Considering that they are considered to be the all time greatest male and female actors, it is no surprise that what happens between them is full of charisma and passion which makes them an amiable duo for The African Queen. The two of them together make a great team and it makes the story of The African Queen very compelling and entertaining to watch, if for nothing else then solely to watch two legendary actors go at it together in an adventure and love story.

Peter Bull's brief role proves effective as well.

So The African Queen is a classic example of a jungle adventure film which has a simple story and an extremely dedicated duo of leads.