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The African Queen

Play trailer 0:52 Poster for The African Queen PG 1952 1h 45m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
After religious spinster's (Katharine Hepburn) missionary brother is killed in WWI Africa, dissolute steamer captain (Humphrey Bogart) offers her safe passage. She's not satisfied so she persuades him to destroy a German gunboat. The two spend most of their time fighting with each other rather than the Germans. Time alone on the river leads to love.
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The African Queen

The African Queen

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Critics Consensus

Perfectly cast, smartly written, and beautifully filmed, The African Queen remains thrilling, funny, and effortlessly absorbing even after more than half a century's worth of adventure movies borrowing liberally from its creative DNA.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 07/06/2022
This is a comedy, a love story, and a tale of adventure, and it is one of the most charming and entertaining movies ever made. Go to Full Review
Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 11/25/2019
5/5
The action scenes are expertly handled, the film was a hit and Hollywood liked it so much that it remade it in 1975 as Rooster Cogburn, with John Wayne opposite Hepburn. Go to Full Review
THR Staff The Hollywood Reporter 02/20/2017
The African Queen is top flight entertainment, delightful, different, always interesting. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com 10/15/2024
5/5
…not all old films are good films, but The African Queen still passes muster with vibrant flying colours in 2024…arguably the first modern action movie, this is no ersatz jungle cruise, but a bona fide classic.. Go to Full Review
Ian Kane Epoch Times 09/27/2024
4/5
...the film masterfully blends action and humor, with more sentimental moments. Its exotic locales were filmed on location in Africa. Go to Full Review
Jet Staff Jet Magazine 01/16/2024
The intense drama, humor, romance and authenticity which African Queen packs make it solid film fare. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Blu B Sep 7 A Classic Adventure Flick. It's kind of amazing with this and Sierra Madre how integral Bogie is to the devlopment of the adventure genre. Really well made all around with really good direction. It has bits of war, romance, comedy, and action all packed together. This must've been a treat to see in 51' as I really can't think of much like it before it. Hepburn is really good but the best thing in this is Bogart without question. He's got so much charisma, charm, personality, and really good chemistry with Hepburn. The special effects are really well done and very clean. A mixture of just doing it, clever editing, minitures, and set design. 80% of this film is on location and it looks really good. Such a memorable locale. If there is one issue that holds it back for me is it wears a lot of hats. Comedic, serious, being leisurely, and fast. On top of that sometimes it can feel like it's tighter in it's writing in certain points more than others. It can feel like going down the river stuff just happens to an extent. But it's really well done overall and anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, Huston, adventure flicks, or an offbeat romance should check this out. Oh and man the opening at the church boy talk about the term cacphony. lol See more Andrew M Jul 28 Aside from the scenes of the Africans, this is a must see classic. burn was great, but Bohar was superlative. hard to believe that it was Bogart. See more Topher S Jan 25 Romantic tale of adventure See more Aender S 04/11/2024 A film carried by the great chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. I also appreciate the Germans are played by real German speakers, so no funny accents or weird grammar mistakes in German language as some other American flicks have. See more JJJJJJ J 12/31/2023 Maybe in its time it was good but by modern standards it just falls flat. The plot seems cliche and predictable and there really seems to be nothing special about it. This film is by no means terrible it just has nothing really good about it. Unfortunately not worth its time. See more Michael C 07/03/2023 I wonder why it took me so long to see this excellent movie. I have heard a great deal about "The African Queen" and am very familiar with its legendary stars. So I decided it's about time. A very smart decision. What is there to say about this excellent film that has not been said already? The late Humphrey Bogart and the late Katherine Hepburn are nothing short of phenomenal (When have either one of them not been?). The story is plausible and very well written. There is not a single dull moment in the film from start to finish. Don't wait too long like I did. See "The African Queen" as soon as you can. You will not be disappointed. See more Read all reviews
The African Queen

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Movie Info

Synopsis After religious spinster's (Katharine Hepburn) missionary brother is killed in WWI Africa, dissolute steamer captain (Humphrey Bogart) offers her safe passage. She's not satisfied so she persuades him to destroy a German gunboat. The two spend most of their time fighting with each other rather than the Germans. Time alone on the river leads to love.
Director
John Huston
Producer
S.P. Spiegel
Screenwriter
C.S. Forester, James Agee, John Huston, John Collier
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Horizon Films, Romulus Productions
Rating
PG (Some Violence|Smoking|Thematic Elements)
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 20, 1952, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2016
Runtime
1h 45m
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