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The African Queen

Play trailer 0:52 Poster for The African Queen PG Released Feb 20, 1952 1h 45m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 53 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 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. Jul 6, 2022 Full Review Kevin Maher Times (UK) 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. Rated: 5/5 Nov 25, 2019 Full Review THR Staff The Hollywood Reporter The African Queen is top flight entertainment, delightful, different, always interesting. Feb 20, 2017 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …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.. Rated: 5/5 Oct 15, 2024 Full Review Ian Kane Epoch Times ...the film masterfully blends action and humor, with more sentimental moments. Its exotic locales were filmed on location in Africa. Rated: 4/5 Sep 27, 2024 Full Review Jet Staff Jet Magazine The intense drama, humor, romance and authenticity which African Queen packs make it solid film fare. Jan 16, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Topher S Romantic tale of adventure Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/25 Full Review Aender S 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. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/11/24 Full Review JJJJJJ J 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. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/31/23 Full Review Michael C 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/03/23 Full Review David F This odd-couple film about two expatriates who end up fighting the Germans in WWI with their little boat didn't do much for me. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/12/23 Full Review Jaksa P Acting is fine, the story is very poor Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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John Huston

Director

Humphrey Bogart

Charlie Allnut

Katharine Hepburn

Rose Sayer

Robert Morley

Reverend Samuel Sayer

Peter Bull

Captain of Louisa

Theodore Bikel

First Officer

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The African Queen

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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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