The African Queen (NR, 1952)
common sense media says
Hepburn and Bogart shine in this odd couple adventure.
parents & educators say
- 50% say there are positive role models
- 50% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this WWI romantic comedy-adventure has a troubling threat of death-by-execution for the main characters. There is light violence in the form of gunfire and dangerous river rapids. Squeamish moments involve blood-sucking leeches and, to a lesser extent, a painful mosquito swarm. As with most old-school movies set in Africa, black natives are unimportant compared to the white-European folk -- but at least they aren't treated with contempt or mockery.
Positive role models:
Both Charlie and Rose are flawed but heroic characters. Charlie drinks too much and is generally uncouth; Rose is a little snobbish, but by the end they've proven their worth and thoroughly won each other over. Rose and her brother are brittle Methodist missionaries, fish-out-of-water puritans in the primitive African jungles. The script stops short of depicting them and their Bible lessons as intrusive and ineffective, but slovenly Charlie seems better adapted to the environment and culture. Black tribal Africans are mostly passive background characters, though at least not made comical.
Violence:
A hail of gunfire. German soldiers bully people (one dies offscreen) and burn a grass-hut village. A threatened execution by hanging. Icky scene of Charlie plagued by blood-sucking leeches. Talk of torpedoes and bomb-building.
Sex:
Very mild suggestion that Charlie and Rose sleep together. Rose seems to be naked when bathing in the river (but actually she's covered with a slip).
Language:
Not applicable.
Consumerism:
A novel of the same name by C.S. Forester exists but has been completely overshadowed by the movie adaptation.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Charlie smokes cigars and drinks gin, finally to the point of drunkenness. Rose disapproves of alcohol, sending his stash into the river.
More on The African Queen
Review It
Based on 4 parent & educator reviews:
- 50% say there are positive role models
- 50% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
Most useful reviews by all members
dwaltz
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Opposites Attract, slowly but surely!
How they learn to love each other is very interesting, perhaps even charming, to watch.
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Sinfoniarc
parent
parent
One Of Bogie's Best But Better For Older Kids
Arguably one of John Huston's finest films ever made and until The Last King of Scotland was released (several years ago), it was the last movie filmed in Uganda. Despite not being rated by the MPAA, I suggest that children under 10 not watch this movie but not because I find anything in it potentially offensive, but rather because the movie is very dated and very much a product of it's time. Younger children will have no idea what it's about, what's going on in world history at the time, who the Germans are (and why they're the bad guys), etc.
Charlie Alnut may be a good-old-boy, but he is a drunk and chain smoker (Bogie always smoked in his films and frankly never made it look so cool). Katherine Hepburn's character (Rosie), being a missionary in Uganda (1917, I believe), tries to change Charlie's behavior throughout the course of the movie and arguably succeeds. If you're a Christian, you'll like her strict morals and how while she's determined to destroy the Germans' boat ("The Louisa"), she still has strong moral principles that can be applied to everyday life. Ex. Drunkenness is bad, prayer is powerful, being a missionary is dangerous but very rewarding, etc. I first saw this movie when I was probably 10 and didn't really get it until I was probably high school age, but that's only because I didn't have the historical background to fully understand the movie. At any rate, it's one of the great films to come out of the 1950s. I'm sorry it took Fox and Paramount so long to come to an agreement in order to get it out on Blu-Ray and DVD. The latest restored version is breath-taking and looks and sounds better than what I imagine it did in 1951.
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who3697cares
teen, 18 years old
teen, 18 years old
I love Hepburn and Bogart, but did they ever do anything as overrated as this? They are fine together, but their romance rarely ever makes sense, and the plot rambles on pointlessly about nothing.
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Fabmax
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Having an adventure on the African Queen
I love it! It has adventure, romance, comedy , and it stars two of the greatest stars of all time, Hepburn, and Bogart. Overall, I'd say that this movie is awesome!
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MovieLover4Lyfe
adult
adult
Personally I think this is John Huston's best film. Beautifully made and with superb acting! A must see for anyone 12 and over!
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Tsion
parent of 15 year old
parent of 15 year old
An Engaging, Well-Acted, But Overlong Film...
THE AFRICAN QUEEN really has nothing that bad in it, as much as I recall. I saw it for the first time about three weeks ago and was interested in what COMMONSENSE had to say. I don't know where the 14+ rating came from; there's no language, sex, or violence (only some tense scenes). I liked the film and Katherine Hepburn was excellent, but the pacing was bad and it ran about 20 minutes too long.
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