The African Queen

What’s the Story?

Rose Sayer and her brother Samuel are English missionaries in 1914 German East Africa. Their rare contact with the outside world is through Charlie Allnut, who delivers their mail on his steam- powered boat, The African Queen. When Samuel is killed in a German attack, Charlie takes Rose with him. At first, they are stiffly polite to each other. Then, Rose decides that they must use their explosives to blow up the powerful German gunboat, the Louisa. Charlie thinks she's crazy and they clash. He steers into the rapids to show her how dangerous the river is, but she's thrilled by the experience. Charmed by her enthusiasm and praise, Charlie still insists that they cannot possibly attack the Louisa, and yet she persists. Will the pair try to destroy the German boat, and if so, will they survive the dangerous mission? And will their attraction and admiration for one another continue to grow?

Is It Any Good?

THE AFRICAN QUEEN is one of the finest and most satisfying of the "odd couple takes a trip together" genre. Rose and Charlie are opposites, and yet they are perfectly suited to each other. Ultimately, Rose is not comfortable "rising above" nature, and indeed grows to love it, as she gives up some of the strictures of civilization and appreciates the beauty and "stimulation" of the natural world. Charlie learns to appreciate some of the beauties of civilization; to take the challenge and the responsibility of participating in the fight against the Germans, to have a relationship of trust and tenderness.

Humphrey Bogart won a well-deserved Oscar for this performance. Katharine Hepburn, who was also nominated, said that her performance was based on director John Huston's suggestion that she play Rose as Eleanor Roosevelt. Compare this performance to her appearance in Pat and Mike a year later, in which she played a world-class athlete. The movie is based on a novel of the same name by C.S. Forester, but the romance was added by screenwriters James Agee and John Huston.