The African Queen

PG

Released Feb 20, 1952

1h 45m

Adventure

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List

96%

52 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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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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

Farah R

Not one of my favorites for Catherine Hepburn but still a good film, The African Queen combines comedy and drama superbly owing to its well-written script and superb actors. It wouldn't be so dull if only it had more action sequences.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/02/23

Full Review

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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: Trailer 1

0:52

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Pauline Kael

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

Hollywood Reporter

The African Queen is top flight entertainment, delightful, different, always interesting.

Feb 20, 2017

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

Zita Short

InSession Film

The African Queen serves as a fantastic display of the virtues of old-fashioned craftsmanship. It’s a solid film and it has the sort of broad appeal that great blockbusters need to possess.

Feb 1, 2023

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The African Queen is one of the greatest films ever made and remains a one of the gold standards for the adventure genre.

Rated: 4.5/5

Sep 1, 2022

Full Review

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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
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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