Glucedee
It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.
Matho
The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
Scotty Burke
It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review
j-maloney13
This was a great film featuring fine performances by the wonderful Katharine Hepburn as well as Humphrey Bogart. They are such legends that they can make their character's love appear believable, and allow for the film to be re-watchable even today. Hepburn conveyed such beautiful emotion, whether it be the expressions on her face or the tone in her dialogue. There were some odd moments, with a cheesy line here and there at the fault of the writer, not of any of the actors. I liked the allusion to the code, while the pair were going to sleep at night Hepburn, or Rosie, hung up two blankets to hide herself from Charles. There was a lot of good in this movie, from the acting to the great editing in the use of dissolve cuts. There seemed to be many medium shots and long shots, because the backgrounds were filled with amazing views. My favorite part of this film was that it was filmed in Africa, so this allowed for the director to include so many beautiful scenic shots. The foreshadowing at the end of the film was a nice touch, as their is a shot of a sinking boat, and right before the couple were to be hanged, the ship blows up. At the end, there is a shot of a piece of wood with the name of their ship "The African Queen," showing that they accomplished what they set out to do. Great film, and any film lover should watch this at least once.
MayPiazza
Cinematography in this movie was amazing. Beautiful scenery of Africa and sets. Legendary actors, Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn have great on screen chemistry. Movie has a great deal of symbolism within it, such as hunting crocodiles as a symbol of Germans. I believe that this movie revolutionized the adventure genre. Not to mention the combination of adventure and music was fun and catchy.
Ed-Shullivan
1. Humphrey Bogart who plays a gin-swigging steamboat captain named Charlie Allnut. *Need I also mention that Bogie won his one and only Oscar for best actor for his performance? 2. Katherine Hepburn as the stubborn and over the top straight-laced missionary named Rose Sayer who is given no choice but to have to rely on the drunkard captain Charlie Allnut for her passage on his steamboat appropriately named the African Queen. 3. Robert Morley has a brief but important role playing Rose's brother the righteous Reverend Samuel Sayer. Samuel is not only Rose's Missionary brother but also her rock of Gibraltar. When these two Missionaries are advised by Charlie (who is delivering them some supplies) to leave their post as war is upon them, they decide to stay on and preach rather than fear for their own lives as the Germans are evading Africa during World War 1. Sadly, Reverend Samuel Sayer quickly succumbs to a high fever and now Rose is on her own in the heart of Africa at the outbreak of war with no passage arranged for her return home. 4. This is a story that encompasses great adventure, plenty of action, a generous supply of wonderful comedy between Hepburn and Bogart, and of course a true romance blossoming on the African Queen. 5. Opposites do attract and this could not be truer than with the polar opposites of Missionary Rose Sayer, and steamboat captain, gin-swigging Charlie Allnut, who eventually find a way to not only become good friends, but who also bring out the best and worst in each other and eventually they fall in love. 6. The adventure takes place as the two sail down the Ulanga River with Rose persisting that Charlie fear not and use his precious African Queen steamboat as a torpedo to take out the German's artillery ship the Königin Luise. 7. Rose and Charlie are both feisty characters and a case of gin that Charlie has stashed on his boat brings out the best and the worst of their feistiness in both a comical and dramatic way for different reasons. I just loved the interactions between these two hard boiled characters who must find a way to get along if they actually want to survive their trip down the Ulanga River. 8. The action takes place as Rose and Charlie must not only get through the fierce rapids of the Ulanga river, not once, not twice, but three times, but they must also find a way to survive the attack of the Germans who are piercing Charlie's steamboat with bullets. 9. After surviving the drunkenness of Charlie's worst hangover, and the deliberate spillage by Rose of Charlie's most precious cargo (his gin), the Ulanga river rapids, the German's attack on their steamboat, the African Queen is left barely limping by the end of the film. Rose and Charlie are oh so close to not only surviving their ordeals, but succeeding in beating the Germans at their own game and they find themselves in an embarrassing but still loving embrace that will have most romantics letting out a big sigh of relief and wonderment. These are the scenes which epitomize the term "film classic".10. Although the majority of this film relies solely on the superb acting and great chemistry between Katherine Hepburn, and Oscar winner Humphrey Bogart, much praise has to also be extolled on to director John Huston who kept his two stars sympatico during the sweltering heat and bug infested waters of filming each day. The reward is there on the big screen for all to see, a classic film that will never fade from the top 100 classic films of all time. I just love this film and I hope anyone who has not seen it takes the time to enjoy one of the greatest films of all times.A Perfect 10 for 10 rating
Python Hyena
The African Queen (1951): Dir: John Huston / Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter Bull, Theodore Bikel: Stunning if not overrated adventure about overcoming extreme odds. Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn escape to the African Queen, a small cargo boat owned by the Bogart character. Setting is World War 1 with the Germans in pursuit. Some comic moments set in as when the leads struggle to adapt and tease viewers with sexual tension. Director John Huston does a superb job and is backed with effective suspense and action although the romantic elements are an ill timed formula that are unnecessarily distracting. Huston previously directed Bogart in Maltese Falcon and Key Largo. Bogart carries some sarcasm while Hepburn maintains a stern disposition especially after her brother is killed but viewers are well aware of what their journey is all about. And despite the romantic drivel the concluding union between the two is priceless. Outside the leading roles, the rest of the characters are waterlogged bores. Robert Morley plays Hepburn's brother who doesn't last very long, and Peter Bull appears in a flat supporting role. It stresses perseverance and equality of genders and a screenplay that doesn't deliver quite as effectively as its reputation boasts. It does delivers with adventure, thrills and the untimely arrival of a cargo boat. Score: 7 / 10
