The African Queen (1951, NR)

Directed by: John Huston

Grade: B

The production of the African Queen was tough and unforgiving.  It was shot on location in Uganda, Africa, and the majority of the cast and crew became sick with dysentery.  Director John Huston very well could have called the whole production off, or at least postponed it, but everyone involved in the making of the film pulled through.  The result was a memorable picture that held to it a couple of noteworthy points.  These points are: 1. Humphrey Bogart won his only Oscar for Best Actor.  2. The film remained remembered throughout the years well enough so that it was preserved in the United States National Film Registry.  These points are not among the most incredible points to be made among the history of cinema, but they are important to the film itself. 

The African Queen, though humorous and adventurous, is still too-glorified.  There are quite a few inconsistencies: the film editing can lose proper stance, it’s more of a drama than it would have hoped, and on more than one occasion the screenplay would rather ramble on then push the film forward.  Somehow though, the African Queen has never lost its touch with audiences, and I must say, it is an attractive film, one that is also finely acted, cherished, and is fortunately a triumph of character outlook over technical features.    

The film was shot nicely in Uganda.  The sweltering sun, shady trees, and auburned water cause heavy sweat to drain from the actors.  Plainly, the African jungle is a harsh environment.  The African Queen itself, however, controls its navigation, and the safety of its passengers for that matter, down the river.  There are misadventures and dangerous turns down the meandering waterway, whether it be engine trouble, deep mud in the shallow water, leeches, German soldiers, and whatever else that somehow crosses their path. 

It’s a painless story that’s easy to relate to and even easier to follow along.  As a result, it’s rather fun to watch.  As a romantic-adventure-drama, it’s a household story of an unlikely couple who, through their mishaps and common determination for survival, come to love each other.  I find myself saying that today, the African Queen is viewed in slightly too high of esteem, but keenly seen through the eyes of the audience, the African Queen is one of those motion pictures that is bound to stalwartly elapse through time as a simple but qualified slice of traditional romantic-adventure yarn.