The African Queen
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VHS Movie Reviews of The African Queen
Movie Review: what the hell is taking so long
Summary: 5 Stars
there is no collection without this one. one of the best film classics of all time. they released shane but what about this one.i do not understand why. it's not a movie that is banned. or something really kept in a vault. i just can not understand why.release this please.Movie Review: The third star, Africa
Summary: 5 Stars
The _African Queen_ stars Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart -- who won an Oscar -- and perhaps best of all, Africa. Watching it, I love how the beauty and difference of Africa shines throughout the movie. Like all good journeys, the travels of "Charlie" and "Rosie" result in transformation. It gives great joy to see two great stars convey transformation and romance within the simple story of a trip downriver. As another reviewer I read noted, a love story centered on a middle-aged couple also offers fare not often found in today's Hollywood.Although depictions of native peoples may be stereotyped, the characters also show a deep and surprising love of the continent. Just as they appreciate the beauties of Africa, so too can we. A wonderful movie that will not fail to satisfy!
Movie Review: Great adventure, but with psychological overtones
Summary: 4 Stars
Two completely different people with conflicting sets of values thrown together in a tense situation. This is the core of the story. It was a notable movie because it was truly filmed in Africa, unusual for those times. The charismatic stars, though both getting older, drew audiences. It was based on a popular novel by C. S. Forester, a popular adventure writer. The war theme was still popular although the time period was World War Iand the movie was made while World War II memories were still fresh.
However, I believe that it was the basic theme that I stated in the first line of this review that gives the movie a feeling of greatness. Two opposites thrown together. They face danger together. And they come up with the plan to sink the German boat. And so their seemingly conflicting personalities mesh together. Naturally, they fall in love, and this is psychologically sound. A man and a woman in a tense situation together, even with seemingly opposite personalities, are bound to turn to each other for the moment.
The actors of course were exactly right to breathe life into this situation. And Robert Morley was also effective as Katherine Hepburn's brother missionary. The realization that this was filmed on location, not on the studio's back lot, or in Griffith Park, enhanced the film.
I first saw it as a 14 year old and therefore, was impressed by the adventure and ready to got to the popcorn stand whenever it looked like it was going to go lovey-dovey. More than 50 years later, I am still enthralled, but for altogether different reasons.
Rather than terming this a classic, because that word sounds stodgy to many, I would call this a timeless movie because of the basic human theme. If asked to name my favorite movies, it may well fail to make the top 10, possibly not even the top 20, but it would definitely be in the top 50, and when you figure that I've probably seen between 50 and 100 movies a year for a number of years, top 50 isn't too shabby.
Movie Review: Why this movie is considered so good
Summary: 4 Stars
1) Based on the novel (of the same name) by C.S. Forester2) Music performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
3) Directed by John Huston
4) Katharine Hepburn
5) Humphrey Bogart
The movie begins in German East Africa, September 1914 with the Germans invading and destroying a small town that missionaries Samuel and Rose (brother and sister) are living in. After the Germans take all the natives away Samuel falls ill and dies.
Mr. Alnutt (sailor of the African Queen), the man who delivers their mail, comes around and Rose goes with him for safety reasons. They hide (Mr. Alnutt feels the Germans will want his boat) and discuss what to do next. With the war all around them, they need to figure a way out of there.
With much pushing on Rose's part they decide to go down a very difficult river and torpedo a German ship to help their country.
The scenery and the wild animals are amazing to behold. I love when Rose calls Charlie "a coward". This very different pair has many adventures.
This is why the movie is considered so good!
Movie Review: Don't Make The Mistake Of Taking This Film For Granted
Summary: 5 Stars
THE AFRICAN QUEEN is probably one of the most widely available films in the world, on sale in the electronics department of virtually every major retail chain, a commonplace at every rental counter, frequently seen on television. It is hard to imagine any one in the western world, especially in the United States, who has not seen the film at least once--and probably more than once. And so we take it for granted.That is a mistake. Based on the famous C.S. Forester novel, which it follows quite closely, THE AFRICAN QUEEN is the simple story of pragmatic river-rat Charlie Allnut (Bogart) and high-minded Methodist missionary spinster Rose Sayer (Hepburn) who are thrown together by chance when German troups sweep through Africa during World War I. Once safely aboard his beat-up riverboat "The African Queen," Allnut desires nothing more than to dodge the Germans until war's end; Rose, however, determines to strike a blow against the Germans by sailing the boat downriver to attack a German battleship.
There are so many fine things about this movie that they are hard to innumerate. Filmed on location in the Congo, the cinematography is remarkably fine without being obtrusive; the script, which is at once subtle and very purposeful, has a remarkably natural tone; the two stars--who play the vast majority of the film alone together--give justly famous performances; and Huston's direction is so fine that we never feel even the slightest hint of directorial manipulation. As an adventure, it has a sense of realism that most adventure stories lack; as a character study it is remarkably detailed and finely wrought; as a love story, it is quite touching without engaging in common sentimentality. And it can be enjoyed by many people of diverse backgrounds and ages without the faintest qualm.
If you haven't seen THE AFRICAN QUEEN in a while (or heaven forbid never seen it at all) don't take it for granted thinking you'll catch it sooner or later. Sit down with the film and watch it with fresh eyes. You'll be amazed.