The African Queen

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The African Queen

PG

Released Feb 20, 1952

1h 45m

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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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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

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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

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THR Staff

The Hollywood Reporter

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

Feb 20, 2017

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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

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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

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Jet Staff

Jet Magazine

The intense drama, humor, romance and authenticity which African Queen packs make it solid film fare.

Jan 16, 2024

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Jaksa P

Acting is fine, the story is very poor

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/09/23

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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

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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
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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