Programme Notes

THE AFRICAN QUEEN is one of those movies that has it all: adventure, humour and romance. The only pairing of two of classic Hollywood's most legendary stars, one wonders after seeing this film, why no one had discovered Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart's incredible on-screen rapport before, and why no one bothered to take advantage of it after.

Based on the novel by C.S. Forester, THE AFRICAN QUEEN is set in central Africa during World War I. It is the story of an English missionary and spinster, Rose Sayer (Hepburn), who is forced to flee her mission after German troops destroy the village. A Canadian supplier, Charlie Allnutt (Bogart), offers to take her down river to civilization in his little river steamer, The African Queen. The contrast in their personalities (Rose is a very proper Edwardian English missionary and Charlie is a scruffy, gin-drinking seaman) becomes the first major source of their disagreements, which only worsen when Rose decides she wants to do her patriotic duty and follow the river all the way down to the lake, where she plans to sink, with home-made torpedoes, the German cruiser guarding it.

Needless to say, Charlie doesn't take to this in the slightest, but his conscience gets the better of him and he agrees to humour Rose until she discovers for herself how futile the whole idea is. Or is it?
Overall it makes for a great movie-- nominated for four Academy Awards in 1951 (Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress), THE AFRICAN QUEEN was shot almost entirely on location in Uganda and on the Lualaba River in the (now) D.R.Congo. Although on Huston’s strongest territory, (the adventure or quest) and although he had the superb support of Jack Cardiff’s sumptuous cinematography, it was only Bogie who won the Oscar (his sole success). The beauty of the African jungle and the harrowing experience of the rapids are wonderfully brought to life. Huston must be one of the greatest directors in history, and this is a great example of the best he had to offer.

Bogart gives the performance of his life, and Hepburn matches him stride for stride. Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about this film is that it starred two supremely-talented screen legends who were completely in control of their talents, and they work surprisingly well together, bringing to the movie a special comedic chemistry that is the fuel behind the romance of Charlie and Rose.

The script, which Huston co-wrote with John Agee, moves swiftly and sets the perfect tone for the movie. Terrifically directed, acted and photographed, it is a true classic that everyone should see at
least once.

Some comments on the DVD version

A trailer, a gallery of contemporary posters and stills, plus some text biographies of the principals, simply whet
the appetite for the main extra feature here: an audio commentary by veteran cinematographer Jack Cardiff, the man responsible for the lush, albeit studio-bound jungle textures of Black Narcissus faced innumerable challenges lighting real jungle in the heart of the Congo for Huston's ambitious project, and here he relates all the behind-the-scenes anecdotes of disease, infestation and disaster that plagued the production.

It's a real treat to hear one of the last survivors of the Golden Age of filmmaking happily reminiscing about one of cinema's classic pictures, talking companionably of Huston, Bogie and Katie Hepburn and what everyone--cast and crew alike--endured to finish the picture. The movie itself, in its original 1.33:1 ratio, looks just fine, and the sound is an unfussy digitally remastered mono.

Mark Walker

The stills gallery and poster gallery will provide some interest for aficionados, but it is the audio commentary by Jack Cardiff which is the jewel in the extras’ crown. Cardiff provided cinematography for The African Queen and has a wealth of information about the shooting of the film, including details of the trick they used to give the appearance of a swarm of flies - apparently achieved by...(ed. - censored: you’ll have to ask him). It is
his anecdotes about the shooting process however, which are perhaps the most interesting, revealing aspects of the stars’ personalities and relating tales of the cast and crew’s battle with the African jungle and sickness.

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