The African Queen opened on December 23, 1951 in Los Angeles, in order to qualify for the 1951 Oscars, and on February 20, 1952 at the Capitol Theatre in New York City.
Awards and recognition
American Film Academy has rewarded The African Queen movie with an Oscar (Best Actor in a Leading Role - Humphrey Bogart) and other three nominations (Best Actress in a Leading Role - Katharine Hepburn; Best Adapted Screenplay - James Agee and John Huston; Best Director - John Huston).
American Film Institute was considered The African Queen in the following list:
#17 - 100 YEARS...100 MOVIES (1998)
#14 - 100 YEARS...100 PASSIONS (2002)
#48 - 100 YEARS...100 MOVIE CHEERS (2006)
#65 - 100 YEARS...100 MOVIES - 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (2007)
#17 - 100 GREATEST AMERICAN MOVIES OF ALL TIME (2007)
Also on AFI's 100 YEARS...100 STARS (1999), Humphrey Bogart is ranked no. 1 (legend actor) and Katharine Hepburn is ranked no. 1 (legend actress). So we can say that The African Queen is the only movie that reunites the two number one in the AFI's legend actors list.
American Film Academy has rewarded The African Queen movie with an Oscar (Best Actor in a Leading Role - Humphrey Bogart) and other three nominations (Best Actress in a Leading Role - Katharine Hepburn; Best Adapted Screenplay - James Agee and John Huston; Best Director - John Huston).
American Film Institute was considered The African Queen in the following list:
#17 - 100 YEARS...100 MOVIES (1998)
#14 - 100 YEARS...100 PASSIONS (2002)
#48 - 100 YEARS...100 MOVIE CHEERS (2006)
#65 - 100 YEARS...100 MOVIES - 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (2007)
#17 - 100 GREATEST AMERICAN MOVIES OF ALL TIME (2007)
Also on AFI's 100 YEARS...100 STARS (1999), Humphrey Bogart is ranked no. 1 (legend actor) and Katharine Hepburn is ranked no. 1 (legend actress). So we can say that The African Queen is the only movie that reunites the two number one in the AFI's legend actors list.
Cast and crew
Music composed by Allan Gray played by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Norman Del Mar
Find more informations about this topic and watch The African Queen online part 2 in the website dedicated page
Directed by John Huston
Novel "The African Queen" by C.S. Forester
Screenplay by James Agee and John Huston
Cast: Humphrey Bogart as Charlie Allnutt, Katharine Hepburn as Rose Sayer, Robert Morley as Rev. Samuel Sayer, Peter Bull as Captain of Louisa, Theodore Bikel as First Officer, Walter Gotell as Second Officer, Peter Swanwick as First Officer of Shona, Richard Marner as Second Officer of Shona
Produced by S.P. EagleMusic composed by Allan Gray played by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Norman Del Mar
Find more informations about this topic and watch The African Queen online part 2 in the website dedicated page
Plot
Rose Sayer, a British missionary in Africa, is stranded alone in the jungle after the Germans march in to conscript the natives and, in the process, burn the village and fatally assault her brother, the Reverend. She is found by Charlie Allnutt, the local jack of all trades, who takes her onto his boat The African Queen to go into hiding until the war is over. But Rose has another idea. She wants to go down the river to go off Louisa battle ship. Charlie humors her at first, hoping she’ll see the folly of her plan. But the further down the river they go, the more empowered she becomes. He is despairing at the dangers they will face until they successfully pass Shona, the German fort, and then survive several miles of rapids. In their exhilaration, they fall in love. But their troubles aren’t over. Several more challenges await them - a sheer drop over a waterfall that requires significant repair to the boat, a swarm of insects that prevents them from anchoring on shore and, finally, the reeds and mud of the river delta that beaches the boat on a dirt bank. Just as they give up hope, a rainfall upstream swells the river to lift the boat off the mud. As they drift out onto the lake, they see the Louisa doing its patrol. They go about executing their plan when a storm blows up. Their little boat is capsized and they are taken prisoner by the Germans, who sentence them to death. But before they proceed with the hanging, Charlie asks the Captain to marry them. He pronounces them man and wife just as the Louisa collides with the capsized African Queen, detonating Charlie’s makeshift torpedoes and blowing itself up. Rose and Charlie swim off to Kenya together.
Rose Sayer, a British missionary in Africa, is stranded alone in the jungle after the Germans march in to conscript the natives and, in the process, burn the village and fatally assault her brother, the Reverend. She is found by Charlie Allnutt, the local jack of all trades, who takes her onto his boat The African Queen to go into hiding until the war is over. But Rose has another idea. She wants to go down the river to go off Louisa battle ship. Charlie humors her at first, hoping she’ll see the folly of her plan. But the further down the river they go, the more empowered she becomes. He is despairing at the dangers they will face until they successfully pass Shona, the German fort, and then survive several miles of rapids. In their exhilaration, they fall in love. But their troubles aren’t over. Several more challenges await them - a sheer drop over a waterfall that requires significant repair to the boat, a swarm of insects that prevents them from anchoring on shore and, finally, the reeds and mud of the river delta that beaches the boat on a dirt bank. Just as they give up hope, a rainfall upstream swells the river to lift the boat off the mud. As they drift out onto the lake, they see the Louisa doing its patrol. They go about executing their plan when a storm blows up. Their little boat is capsized and they are taken prisoner by the Germans, who sentence them to death. But before they proceed with the hanging, Charlie asks the Captain to marry them. He pronounces them man and wife just as the Louisa collides with the capsized African Queen, detonating Charlie’s makeshift torpedoes and blowing itself up. Rose and Charlie swim off to Kenya together.
Story
Deep in German East Africa, near the Ulanga River, in Kungdu, an exotic African village, during WWI (September 1914), Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn), an English spinster, is the sister of a gentle missionary Rev Samuel Sayer (Robert Morley). After the destruction and burning of the village by enemy troops which caused the premature death of his brother (after a severe psychological shock), Rose, lost in despair, left the village with the help of Charlie Allnutt (Humphrey Bogart) (Charlie Allnutt "a kind of jack-of-all-trades, master of none, like they say" but "Nothing a man can't do if he believes in himself.") and his little rusty old 30-foot boat called the African Queen to travel south down Ulanga River. The Ulanga is filled with rocks and white water rapids that can smash and sink a boat (Charlie Allnutt "there's the rapids, 100 miles of water like it was coming from a fire hose"). Rose attempts convince Charlie (Rose Sayer "Could you make a torpedo?" Charlie Allnutt "How's that, miss? Could you make a torpedo? Ask me to make a dreadnought and do it up right." Rose Sayer "We could get a good head of steam up, and just before she hits, we could dive off, couldn't we?" Charlie Allnutt "Why, sure, miss. Sure. Absolutely. There's one thing wrong with your idea. There ain't nothing to torpedo.") they should go south down the Ulanga and sink the Louisa (A 100-ton steamer). During the first few days , the relationship between Charlie and Rose is tense (Charlie Allnutt "you crazy, psalm-singing, skinny old maid!"). And Rose thinks Mr Allnutt is nothing coward unfit to be a captain (Rose Sayer "In other words, you refuse to help your country in her hour of need, Mr Allnutt?" Charlie Allnutt "Well, I wouldn't put it that way." Rose Sayer "Just how would you put it, Mr Allnutt?" Charlie Allnutt "All right, have it your way, but don't blame me for what happens." Rose Sayer "Very well. Let's get started."). Find more about this topic and watch The African Queen online part 3 in the website dedicated page
Deep in German East Africa, near the Ulanga River, in Kungdu, an exotic African village, during WWI (September 1914), Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn), an English spinster, is the sister of a gentle missionary Rev Samuel Sayer (Robert Morley). After the destruction and burning of the village by enemy troops which caused the premature death of his brother (after a severe psychological shock), Rose, lost in despair, left the village with the help of Charlie Allnutt (Humphrey Bogart) (Charlie Allnutt "a kind of jack-of-all-trades, master of none, like they say" but "Nothing a man can't do if he believes in himself.") and his little rusty old 30-foot boat called the African Queen to travel south down Ulanga River. The Ulanga is filled with rocks and white water rapids that can smash and sink a boat (Charlie Allnutt "there's the rapids, 100 miles of water like it was coming from a fire hose"). Rose attempts convince Charlie (Rose Sayer "Could you make a torpedo?" Charlie Allnutt "How's that, miss? Could you make a torpedo? Ask me to make a dreadnought and do it up right." Rose Sayer "We could get a good head of steam up, and just before she hits, we could dive off, couldn't we?" Charlie Allnutt "Why, sure, miss. Sure. Absolutely. There's one thing wrong with your idea. There ain't nothing to torpedo.") they should go south down the Ulanga and sink the Louisa (A 100-ton steamer). During the first few days , the relationship between Charlie and Rose is tense (Charlie Allnutt "you crazy, psalm-singing, skinny old maid!"). And Rose thinks Mr Allnutt is nothing coward unfit to be a captain (Rose Sayer "In other words, you refuse to help your country in her hour of need, Mr Allnutt?" Charlie Allnutt "Well, I wouldn't put it that way." Rose Sayer "Just how would you put it, Mr Allnutt?" Charlie Allnutt "All right, have it your way, but don't blame me for what happens." Rose Sayer "Very well. Let's get started."). Find more about this topic and watch The African Queen online part 3 in the website dedicated page
Characters
This page would not exhaustive; it highlights only some of these character traits. Why? For you to discover or rediscover yourself this masterpiece. And a short note about the genius of John Huston; an extraordinary achievement from early movie that happens in the Methodist Church from Kungdu who show as the Rose's dress.
At the beginning we discover a person resigned but practical, taking life and the world as it is (Rev Samuel Sayer "Wretched man. He's a Canadian. Doesn't he realize he's in this, too?"). He describes himself as "a kind of jack-of-all-trades, master of none". Charlie compassionate towards the afflictions native population and Rose misfortunes "Oh, well, now, ain't that awful? "). Charlie has a detached attitude against the war "We could stay here for months if we wanted, not a bad place to sit out a war, all the comforts of home, including running water."
Rose has a complex character. She stoically endures the death of her brother. We can watch her metamorphosis from a quiet and devoted sister (Rev Samuel Sayer "Not comely among the maidens, but she, too, can be a servant in the house of the Lord.") into a woman with a great feeling "We simply can't remain in this backwater until the war is over." When Charlie refused to continue the journey, Rose is very severe with him "You are a liar, Mr Allnutt, and what is worse, you are a coward."
Find about the characters and watch The African Queen online part 4 in the website dedicated page
This page would not exhaustive; it highlights only some of these character traits. Why? For you to discover or rediscover yourself this masterpiece. And a short note about the genius of John Huston; an extraordinary achievement from early movie that happens in the Methodist Church from Kungdu who show as the Rose's dress.
At the beginning we discover a person resigned but practical, taking life and the world as it is (Rev Samuel Sayer "Wretched man. He's a Canadian. Doesn't he realize he's in this, too?"). He describes himself as "a kind of jack-of-all-trades, master of none". Charlie compassionate towards the afflictions native population and Rose misfortunes "Oh, well, now, ain't that awful? "). Charlie has a detached attitude against the war "We could stay here for months if we wanted, not a bad place to sit out a war, all the comforts of home, including running water."
Rose has a complex character. She stoically endures the death of her brother. We can watch her metamorphosis from a quiet and devoted sister (Rev Samuel Sayer "Not comely among the maidens, but she, too, can be a servant in the house of the Lord.") into a woman with a great feeling "We simply can't remain in this backwater until the war is over." When Charlie refused to continue the journey, Rose is very severe with him "You are a liar, Mr Allnutt, and what is worse, you are a coward."
Find about the characters and watch The African Queen online part 4 in the website dedicated page
Reviews
Oscar winner Bogart's Charlie is a pragmatic man who finds true hope and happiness in Hepburn's Rose. Rose finds love and meaning from Charlie. It's adorable to see them call each other "Missus" and "Mr Almont" even when we know that they love each other. "The African Queen" movie is a true romance after all. I believe this is one of the best films ever made. The chemistry between Bogart and Hepburn is unique. Everything works together in this romantic adventure. Bogart gives the role everything he's got. He cultivates not another variation on his familiar screen persona but a genuine portrait of a character that already seems familiar to us but which we've never associated with Bogart before. He's always been a dapper urbanite, but here we see him chuckling gleefully as he kicks the temperamental engine on his boat. Katherine Hepburn does a great job of acting and also because despite working in some of the worst conditions imaginable, everyone associated with the film marveled at her cheerful demeanor and professionalism. The beautiful photography along the great river plays in so well with the story-line, as the development of C.S. Forester's characters take shape. A great script, great direction by John Huston and exceptional acting all work together to make a movie that deservedly gained notoriety and praise.
Why this movie is still so fresh and exciting? I'll mention a few arguments not in a hierarchical order. One argument is that his romantic side is immortal. Another great advantage is that the time at which it was made, entire crew was in maximum form. Like this couple unsurpassed (Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn), where both actors were at the highest potential for artistic expression. Find more reviews and watch The African Queen online part 5 in the website dedicated page
Oscar winner Bogart's Charlie is a pragmatic man who finds true hope and happiness in Hepburn's Rose. Rose finds love and meaning from Charlie. It's adorable to see them call each other "Missus" and "Mr Almont" even when we know that they love each other. "The African Queen" movie is a true romance after all. I believe this is one of the best films ever made. The chemistry between Bogart and Hepburn is unique. Everything works together in this romantic adventure. Bogart gives the role everything he's got. He cultivates not another variation on his familiar screen persona but a genuine portrait of a character that already seems familiar to us but which we've never associated with Bogart before. He's always been a dapper urbanite, but here we see him chuckling gleefully as he kicks the temperamental engine on his boat. Katherine Hepburn does a great job of acting and also because despite working in some of the worst conditions imaginable, everyone associated with the film marveled at her cheerful demeanor and professionalism. The beautiful photography along the great river plays in so well with the story-line, as the development of C.S. Forester's characters take shape. A great script, great direction by John Huston and exceptional acting all work together to make a movie that deservedly gained notoriety and praise.
Why this movie is still so fresh and exciting? I'll mention a few arguments not in a hierarchical order. One argument is that his romantic side is immortal. Another great advantage is that the time at which it was made, entire crew was in maximum form. Like this couple unsurpassed (Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn), where both actors were at the highest potential for artistic expression. Find more reviews and watch The African Queen online part 5 in the website dedicated page
Trivia
Katharine Hepburn described in "The Making of The African Queen" or "How I Went to Africa with Bogie, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind"), the first day of shooting: Five cars and trucks were needed to take the cast, crew and equipment 3.5 miles from Biondo to the Ruiki river; there, they loaded everything onto boats and sailed another 2.5 miles to the shooting location; press materials and contemporary articles detailed the perils of shooting on location in Africa, including dysentery, malaria, contaminated drinking water, and several close brushes with wild animals and poisonous snakes; most of the cast and crew were sick for much of the filming.
The African Queen, built in England in 1912 was used by the British East Africa Company from 1912 to 1968 to shuttle passengers and cargo across Lake Albert (on the border between Uganda and Belgian Congo).
Find more trivia (also you'll find an exceptional Video live with Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn and John Huston doing The African Queen) and watch The African Queen online part 6 in the website dedicated page
Katharine Hepburn described in "The Making of The African Queen" or "How I Went to Africa with Bogie, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind"), the first day of shooting: Five cars and trucks were needed to take the cast, crew and equipment 3.5 miles from Biondo to the Ruiki river; there, they loaded everything onto boats and sailed another 2.5 miles to the shooting location; press materials and contemporary articles detailed the perils of shooting on location in Africa, including dysentery, malaria, contaminated drinking water, and several close brushes with wild animals and poisonous snakes; most of the cast and crew were sick for much of the filming.
The African Queen, built in England in 1912 was used by the British East Africa Company from 1912 to 1968 to shuttle passengers and cargo across Lake Albert (on the border between Uganda and Belgian Congo).
Find more trivia (also you'll find an exceptional Video live with Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn and John Huston doing The African Queen) and watch The African Queen online part 6 in the website dedicated page
Songs lyrics
"God of Grace and God of Glory", lyrics by Harry Fosdick, music by Cwm Rhondda, John Ceiriog Hughes, sung at the beginning of the movie by Robert Morley as Rev Samuel Sayer and Katharine Hepburn as Rose Sayer in Methodist Church
God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
................................
"Bold Fisherman" sung by Humphrey Bogart as Charlie Allnutt during the film and the two protagonists in the film's end
There was a bold fisherman who sailed out from Pimlico
To slew the wild codfish and the bold mackerel.
When he arrived off Pimlico, the stormy winds did wildly blow
His little boat went wibble, wobble, and over board sprang he.
................................................................
Find the full two songs (mp3 format), lyrics (you can download), also the movie main musical theme and watch The African Queen online part 7 in the website dedicated page
"God of Grace and God of Glory", lyrics by Harry Fosdick, music by Cwm Rhondda, John Ceiriog Hughes, sung at the beginning of the movie by Robert Morley as Rev Samuel Sayer and Katharine Hepburn as Rose Sayer in Methodist Church
God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
................................
"Bold Fisherman" sung by Humphrey Bogart as Charlie Allnutt during the film and the two protagonists in the film's end
There was a bold fisherman who sailed out from Pimlico
To slew the wild codfish and the bold mackerel.
When he arrived off Pimlico, the stormy winds did wildly blow
His little boat went wibble, wobble, and over board sprang he.
................................................................
Find the full two songs (mp3 format), lyrics (you can download), also the movie main musical theme and watch The African Queen online part 7 in the website dedicated page
Quotes
Rose Sayer: Brother?
Rev Samuel Sayer: Thank you.
Charlie Allnutt: Just listen to this stomach of mine. The way it sounds, you'd think I had a hyena inside me.
Rose Sayer: Mr Allnutt...
Charlie Allnutt: I'm still right here. There ain't any other place I could be on a 30-foot boat.
Charlie Allnutt: How long you been out here, miss?
Rose Sayer: About 10 years.
Charlie Allnutt: What part of England are you from?
Rose Sayer: The Midlands.
Charlie Allnutt: Sounds pretty, anyway.
Charlie Allnutt: Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow. But with you, business before pleasure every time. Do all your laundry, make yourself spick-and-span, get all the mending out of the way, and then, and only then, sit down for a nice quiet hour with the good book. I tell you, it's a model, like an inspiration.
Rose Sayer: What brought you to Africa, Mr Allnutt?
Charlie Allnutt: The Zambezi bridge. A whole boatload of us Canucks came to work on it. Don't know why they wanted it, both sides of the river the same, but why does a chicken cross the road?
Rose Sayer: I beg your pardon?
Charlie Allnutt: Nothing, miss. Ah, sometimes I wish I was back rubbing elbows, as they say.
Find the best quotes and watch The African Queen online part 8 in the website dedicated page
Rose Sayer: Brother?
Rev Samuel Sayer: Thank you.
Charlie Allnutt: Just listen to this stomach of mine. The way it sounds, you'd think I had a hyena inside me.
Rose Sayer: Mr Allnutt...
Charlie Allnutt: I'm still right here. There ain't any other place I could be on a 30-foot boat.
Charlie Allnutt: How long you been out here, miss?
Rose Sayer: About 10 years.
Charlie Allnutt: What part of England are you from?
Rose Sayer: The Midlands.
Charlie Allnutt: Sounds pretty, anyway.
Charlie Allnutt: Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow. But with you, business before pleasure every time. Do all your laundry, make yourself spick-and-span, get all the mending out of the way, and then, and only then, sit down for a nice quiet hour with the good book. I tell you, it's a model, like an inspiration.
Rose Sayer: What brought you to Africa, Mr Allnutt?
Charlie Allnutt: The Zambezi bridge. A whole boatload of us Canucks came to work on it. Don't know why they wanted it, both sides of the river the same, but why does a chicken cross the road?
Rose Sayer: I beg your pardon?
Charlie Allnutt: Nothing, miss. Ah, sometimes I wish I was back rubbing elbows, as they say.
Find the best quotes and watch The African Queen online part 8 in the website dedicated page
Script
by James Agee, John Huston and Peter ViertelEXT. A NATIVE VILLAGE IN A CLEARING BETWEEN THE JUNGLE AND THE RIVER. LATE MORNING
LONG SHOT - A CHAPEL
Intense light and heat, a stifling silence. Then the SOUND of a reedy organ, of two voices which make the words distinct, and of miscellaneous shy, muffled, dragging voices, beginning a hymn:
VOICES (singing)
"Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah..."
INT. CHAPEL -- LONG SHOT -- THE LENGTH OF THE BLEAK CHAPEL PAST THE CONGREGATION, ON BROTHER, AT THE LECTERN, AND ROSE, AT THE ORGAN
BROTHER, a missionary, faces CAMERA near center; ROSE, his sister, is at side, her face averted. Everybody is singing.
"Pilgrim through this barren land..." Find to the full script in the website dedicated page
Production
Most of the filming was done in Uganda and Congo. The production team endured sickness and harsh living conditions. Hepburn was often sick. Bogart was the only one to escape illness. He confessed that never drank water from shooting locations. The scenes were considered too dangerous to shoot in Africa were done in Isleworth Studios, Middlesex, England. The small steam-boat used in the film to depict the African Queen was built in 1912, in Lytham St Annes, England. The scenes on board the boat were filmed using a large raft with a mockup of the boat on top. Sections of the boat set could be removed to make room for the large Technicolor camera. This proved hazardous on one occasion when the boat's boiler almost fell over onto Hepburn. It was not bolted down since it also had to be moved to accommodate the camera. Because of the dangers involved with shooting the rapid scenes, a model was created at the studio tank in London. The film also features a German gunboat, the Louise, which is based on the former World War I vessel MV Liemba (known until 1924 as the Graf von Götzen), which sank in 1916 during the Battle for Lake Tanganyika, but was subsequently refloated by the British and continues to operate as a passenger ferry to this day.
Others considerations
The movie is known in other countries under different names such as: La reine africaine (France), La regina d'Africa (Italy), La reina de África (Spain), A Raínha Africana (Portugal), La reina africana (Argentina), De afrikaanse koningin (Belgium), Afrikas drottning (Finland), Afrikas dronning (Denmark), Afrika kraliçesi (Turkey), Afrika királynöje (Hungary), Afrykanska królowa (Poland), I vasilissa tis Afrikis (Greece), Uma Aventura na África (Brazil), La reina africana (Venezuela).
The African Queen was adapted as a one-hour radio play on the December 15, 1952 broadcast of Lux Radio Theater with Humphrey Bogart reprising his film role and joined by Greer Garson.
And like a conclusion, what I really love at African Queen (actually at all great movies) is even consider me a stupid person, never tell me this thing.
The African Queen movie for fans
On every page of this website (in the right column), we made one or more specific quizzes with questions from the content. Let's have fun and see how this great classic movie will remain in our memory.