The African Queen (1952)

Perfect cast and a good story

Boring

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The African Queen was not what I expected as a 1950s film. A film about a steamboat was dragging the plot a little. This would've been a great movie if they involved actual designs and sets that show Africa. I think Casablanca was a bit better seeing the diversity within one film was a great twist for the audience watching.

The African Queen (1951), John Huston, is the story of a Christian missionary (Katharine Hepburn) who falls for a riverboat captain ( Humphrey Bogart) who is fond of liquor. I thought The African Queen was a merely "okay" movie. I thought the acting was done well enough, Bogart does a fine job. The writing was serviceable, but seemed rather typical. However I found the cinematography to be quite lacking in any engagement or creativity and that severely dragged down my appreciation for this as a film. It seems that it is just a regular Romantic Comedy that tries to play with a exotic location as it's main draw. It just fell flat for me.

The African Queen is a well-remembered wartime romance with a good cast and interesting setting. The real stars of the show are the triumvirate of Humphrey Bogart, full of gruff charm as the boat captain, Katharine Hepburn, all prim and proper, and director John Huston, who creates a lush and impressively-realised world for our characters to inhabit.Although war provides a backdrop to the tale and figures predominantly in the opening and closing sequences, the emphasis of The African Queen is very much on the developing relationship and later romance between the two characters. Thankfully, the stars are good enough to hold their own on the screen, and there are some memorable set-piece sequences along the way, such as the well-remembered bits like the storm and the encounter with the leeches.

Africa 1914; a camp housing a group of missionaries during World War 1 is burnt down by German Troops. Two of these missionaries are Christian Missionaries Rose Sayer & Reverend Samuel Sayer (Katharine Hepburn & Robert Morley) and sadly the shock of what happens to their village is too much for Reverend Sayer and he unfortunately dies the following day. Gin-swilling riverboat captain Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) suggests that he and Rose bury her brother's body and flee the camp as soon as possible before the Germans return. Although Charlie and Rose are two very different people they attempt to put their differences aside in order to avenge Rose's brother's death....Given that the majority of the film is spent with only 2 people sharing the screen it is fairly obvious that Director John Huston was reliant on the star power of Bogart and Hepburn to carry this film and ultimately win audiences over. Hats off to Huston because it seems that he has achieved this objective as this film is loved by a good deal of people, but for me it was a bit hit-and-miss...If we start with Bogart and Hepburn; yes I'm prepared to accept that they were both good together on-screen and yes they generally share good chemistry together, but are these things alone enough to make the film great?? I beg to differ I'm afraid. One thing I found disappointing is that Huston doesn't make this feel like much of an adventure film. Most of the time revolves around Bogart and Hepburn and their blossoming relationship, but this is all Huston really focuses on and although it is fun and interesting in fits and starts when the plot only focuses on one think it does make the film feel a bit monotonous at times. The picture is stronger in the second half when Rose and Charlie start working as a team to overcome problems that they encounter on their journey - these aspects make the film feel more focused and enjoyable and give the film its much needed sense of adventure. If we go back to Rose and Charlie's relationship, I kind of felt that there was a bit of an Odd Couple vibe between Charlie and Rose, but if I'm honest I felt that the switch between them hating each other and liking each other was a bit jarring and sudden and felt a little unnatural. The final part of the film where Charlie and Rose are effectively getting their revenge felt rushed and it would have been better if the planning of their attack would have featured more heavily rather than being merely tagged on at the end.The African Queen is notably the film where Bogart won his best actor award and whilst I'm pleased that he received it I can't honestly see how this performance really stands out from anything else I've seen him in - he was good but Oscar worthy??? Hepburn is an equal match for Bogart and their chemistry and camaraderie does make up slightly for the thin and rather uneven plotting.The African Queen is an OK film but when all is said and done I can't really see why everyone is so in love with it?? It's a thinly plotted film with too much romance and not enough adventure and for me is another disappointingly over-hyped 'classic film.'