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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.
The African Queen

What to Know

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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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D B. @Honor Feb 2 One of a kind. Must see See more Richard S. @shepado Jan 30 One of the best! The developing relationship between Bogie and Kate is beautiful. See more Blu B @RT43513976 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 @RT74562588 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 @RT65664524 01/25/2025 Romantic tale of adventure See more Aender S @RT01933294 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 Read all reviews
The African Queen

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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