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Movies / On DVD / The African Queen
The African Queen

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The African Queen (1951)

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Reviews Counted:27

Fresh:27

Rotten:0

Average Rating:8.6/10

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Synopsis: The boozing, smoking, cussing captain of a tramp steamer, Charlie Allnut, saves prim and proper Rose Sayer after her brother is killed by German soldiers at the beginning of World War I in Africa.... The boozing, smoking, cussing captain of a tramp steamer, Charlie Allnut, saves prim and proper Rose Sayer after her brother is killed by German soldiers at the beginning of World War I in Africa. Many quarrels later, the two set sail on the Ulonga-Bora in order to sabotage a German ship. Based on the 1935 novel by C.S. Forester, the wonderful combination of Hepburn and Bogie (who won an Oscar) makes this a thoroughly enjoyable blend of comedy and adventure. Later came the book (and Clint Eastwood film) White Hunter, Black Heart, which chronicled Peter Viertel's experiences observing Huston throughout the making of the picture. [More]

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Theodore Bikel

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Theodore Bikel, Walter Gotell, Richard Marner, Peter Bull

Director: John Huston

Director: John Huston
Story: C.S. Forester
Producer: Sam Spiegel
Screenwriter: James Agee, John Huston
Composer: Allan Gray

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The African Queen

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1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
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Impossible to deny this film's entertainment value...

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This is a film where pretty much everyone is serving aces.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
08/16/01
Chris Hewitt (UK)
Chris Hewitt (UK)
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Both of the actors who portray protagonists -- Bogart and Hepburn -- were past their prime when they made this film, but they gave superb performance nevertheless, often using humour to make their on-screen chemistry more believable.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

It is a picture with an unassuming warmth and naturalness...

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/28/07
William Brogdon
William Brogdon
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

And so Mr. Huston merits credit for putting this fantastic tale on a level of sly, polite kidding and generally keeping it there, while going about the happy business of engineering excitement and visual thrills.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The African Queen (1951) is the uncomplicated tale of two companions with mismatched personalities who develop an implausible love affair

Full Review Source: Tim Dirks' The Greatest Films | comment Comment
01/01/00
Tim Dirks
Tim Dirks
Tim Dirks' The Greatest Films

The direction is often questionable, but the screenplay (by James Agee, John Collier, Huston, and Peter Viertel from C.S. Forester's novel) is a model of tight construction.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
06/28/07
Don Druker
Don Druker
Chicago Reader

There are not two better actors to tackle these roles, and director Huston keeps their story moving without lulls.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
01/01/00
Dan Jardine
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

Huston's romantic adventure, one of the most admired movies in American history, contains iconic performances by Bogart, in his only Oscar-winning role, and Katharine Hepburn.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
02/19/09
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

...a totally delightful and entirely engrossing romance, filled with comedy, action, and adventure.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
04/30/07
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

A much ballyhooed film that has been overrated as a classic.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/01/04
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Bogart and Hepburn are truly amazing together.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
04/26/09
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

One of the very best, both for Bogart and Hepburn.

comment Comment
03/03/05
Rob Vaux
Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium

Despite being 50 years old, there is still something refreshing about watching The African Queen.

Full Review Source: Eye for Film | comment Comment
08/01/01
Amber Wilkinson
Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film

John Huston's The Africian Queen is a film that has everything -- adventure, humor, spectacular photography and superb performances.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
01/01/00
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Bogie and Hepburn, a dynamic duo! A love story, adventure story and comedy, all rolled into one rollicking and perilous river ride. You never get tired watching it.

comment Comment
09/11/03
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Grand adventure, but something more complicated, too.

comment Comment
07/08/04
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

Entertaining star vehicle, but not the great film it's assumed to be.

comment Comment
01/09/03
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

One of the best pictures of all time. Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn have remarkable chemistry, and the picture is a career highlight for each.

comment Comment
01/24/03
Forrest Hartman
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal

Annually gets some votes for best film ever made.

comment Comment
10/28/02
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for The African Queen

February 04, 2009: Exclusive: Inside Pinewood/Shepperton - A Photo Tour
Every year, the BAFTA film awards present a trophy for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. Introduced in 1978, the award recognises an organisation or a person's career... More...

June 22, 2007: AFI Announces Top 100 Movies of All Time ... Again
Ten years ago the AFI gave us a list of the Top 100 American Films Ever Made -- and when that was done they churned out 15 other lists every few years. And then last night they... More...

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