The African Queen

 

 

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"African Queen" is of course a must-see classic which even in a poorly made version would have to rate at least 4 stars. I gave it a full 5 because I agree with the others, on this version the restoration/remastering was incredibly good, especially considering the film's nearly 60 years old by now.

I've been waiting years (and years!) for this classic movie to come out on DVD. It's one of my 50 or so favourite movies and have seen it several times on TV and on the video tape release. I would have been happy to have a dvd of that quality, but the picture quality of the blue-ray release of the movie blew me out of the water! The colours are so vivid and the picture is so clear you'd (almost) think it was a more recent release. Whether you've seen the movie many times or you thinking of buying to see it for the first time, don't hesitate to get this, the best version ever!

This newly released DVD of the legendary classical film The African Queen(Dec/51)restores the film to its original glory.In fact I have never seen it looking this good in all the years I have viewed it.
The film opens in a missionary run by Rev.Samuel Sayer(Robert Morley)and his sister Rose(Kate Hepburn)in Central Africa in 1914.During the sermon the congregation is interrupted by the arrival of one Charlie Allnut(Humphrey Bogart),a Canadian who first came to the country to work in construction but is now his own boss ferrying supplies up and down the Ulangi river in his old battered boat The African Queen.After a prim and proper tea hosted by the Reverend and his sister,Charlie heads back to the open river saying he won't return for about two months.Soon after his departure the Germans arrive,round up the villagers and burn their homes and the mission to the ground.Rev.Sayer ultimately loses his mind and succumbs to death leaving his sister alone in the desolate surroundings.Allnut returns sooner than expected after hearing rumblings from the natives of what exactly the Germans have been up to.He takes care of the burial of the Reverend and the pair head out down the river to find refuge.Revenge is on Rose's mind and she persuades Charlie to go down river to the lake where there is the German ship "Louisa" which patrols there.It is her thought that Charlie can rig up some explosive torpedoes out of oxygen cylinders on board his boat,put them on the bow and then steam into the ship thus sinking it.Charlie agrees but is sure the river's dangers such as falls,rapids and shallows will be enough to dissuade her from thinking she can actually accomplish it.
His feelings are soon put to the test as they encounter their first set of rapids.After a very bumpy and unsettling ride through Charlie says to Rose that she has probably re thought her ambitious plan and wouldn't blame her if she gave up.The experience has had the opposite effect and she is exhilarated and is more determined than ever to carry through.Charlie is beside himself and decides to have a few drinks.Unfortunately this has an undesirable side effect and Charlie gets quite obnoxious towards Rose and insults her.Next morning a hung over Charlie awakes to his entire stash of gin being dumped into the river and a scorned Rose giving him the silent treatment.After a few minutes Charlie finally apologizes and Rose tells him it wasn't his remarks that infuriated her but his backing out of their deal.Charlie relents and agrees to carry on.
Their next major hurtle is a French fort over looking a section of the river.They barely make it by as the rifle fire they take riddles the steam engine and tears the hose.They pull over so Charlie can make repairs.Both are so jubilant at surviving that they hug and kiss each other.After an awkward few moments they passionately embrace and both realize that love has somehow touched them both.The morning after the night before Rose serves him breakfast in "bed" and finally asks what Mr.Allnut's first name was;after all Mr Allnut at this point is way too formal!After several more harrowing experiences farther along the river and with forced major repairs to the boat's propeller and shaft,they finally reach the river delta which empties out into the lake.However the farther they go, the more the delta grass closes in on them.Eventually Charlie and Rose are forced to get out and pull the boat through the reeds.Along with the oppressive heat and brackish water,leeches are the newest problem to confront them.
At the end of the day they are stuck on mud flats and can go no farther and become resigned to death.That night rains come down upstream which filters down to the hapless travelers and raises their boat out of the flats and into the lake which was ironically only about 100 yards,unseen,away from them.
They put their original plan into action and Charlie makes and places two explosive "torpedoes" in either side of the bow,sticking far enough out to impact the German ship.That night they spot their target and head out into open water to sink her.Along the way a storm brews up and the African Queen flounders and they have to abandon the boat.Both are picked up by the German ship and are interrogated then sentenced to death as spies.Charlie gets his last request to be married to Rose and just as they are about to be hanged the ship hits the partially submerged Queen and sinks.Rose and Charlie are now in the water and cannot believe their luck that they did what they set out to do and are still alive.With their futures before them they swim to the lake's nearest shore.
The African Queen took the best actor honour at the /51-52 OSCAR ceremonies with Bogie getting what would be his one and only in his 35 year long acting career.Close but no cigars were Hepburn for best actress,James Agee and John Huston for the screenplay and Huston again for director.The story is fairly simple but well written and is greatly enhanced by its' principals Bogie and Hepburn as both are in top form here.
Technically the film has been beautifully restored and remastered in a hi-def print which is simply gorgeous;it has never looked as good as it does right now.It is full screen and its' main special feature is an approximately 60 minute documentary on the making of the film.You will find there was as much going on behind the camera as on.
If you have been waiting for the best print of The African Queen you can possibly get,then wait no more my friends;as this is one classic that is a must own by all!

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5.0 out of 5 stars 1951 African Queen
1951 African Queen Is basically a love story.Charlie Allnut the skipper of this run down tug,and missionary Rose Sayer,are brought together by fate. Read more

Published on May 12 2010 by Kenneth Dale

5.0 out of 5 stars A real pleasure
My wife and I enjoyed this movie immensely. The producers have done an excellent job of transforming the old technocolor film into a very nice Blu-Ray disc. Read more

Published on April 27 2010 by Harold Tuthill

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