The African Queen

Most of us have seen the movie African Queen many times; one of the charms of this movie is that it is always fun to watch it again. This edition of the "Queen" rewards the purchaser with a delightful movie, a CD audio copy of the Lux Radio Theater broadcast, a reprint of Hepburn's book and a sample of the 35 mm frames showing the films restoration process. I found the quality of the video and the audio to completely satisfactory for a movie that old. If one is so inclined one can use a matrix setting to get fuller sound if that option is available on your system. I used the matrix setting and found it to be quite listenable. The video had moments of sharp clarity for example the lace trim on Rose's dress in the first scene, mixed with occasional moments of graininess. The video on the whole made a positive contribution to the enjoyment of the movie. If you have been waiting as long as some of have to add this movie to your collection, I urge you to take the plunge and buy this edition. I was delighted to see that it even fit in the rack with my other Blu-ray discs in spite of its thicker size. I remember when Lux Radio Theater was on the air; our family would gather around the old Philco radio and listen to that program plus many other radio programs that were to us exciting and eagerly awaited. We would turn off the lights and the glow of the dial on the Philco would be the only light in the room. If one were so inclined, one could recreate the feelings listeners in the 1930's and 40's had by playing the CD in a darkened room and letting your imaginations roam the wilds of German East Africa along with the Queen, Rose, and Charlie. I'm truly pleased to have this in my collection! Update 4/14/2010 Reviews dated before March 23, 2010 refer to something other than the Blu-ray release being featured here by Amazon! Some of the reviews are dated several years before this restored Blu-ray version was even released; the criticisms made about disc technical quality do not refer to this release. As you read the reviews it is critical that you check the date to confirm that the comments on disc quality actually apply to this particular version. If care isn't taken in that regard one can get a completely erroneous impression of this present edition! This one, which was 6 years in preparation after three strip negatives were discovered in London, looks very clear and sharp and is definitely a keeper! Update 5/23/2010 It was pointed out to me in comments that I could have been more precise in my update of 4/14/2010; I was only referring to disc technical quality, not reviewers comments on the acting, history, or other non-disc quality aspects of the older reviews. In many instances the older comments on history, actors and acting are timeless; I have revised my earlier update to clear up any confusion.

The African Queen has finally made its debut on DVD! When the format arrived in 1997 the film had already seen at least one VHS release by Fox as well as a notable release on laserdisc, also by Fox, in 1995. The laserdisc release was notable because it included collectable packaging swag like the shooting script; a full-sized set of lobby card reproductions and a copy of Katherine Hepburn's 1987 memoir, The Making of The African Queen or How I went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and almost lost my mind. The laserdisc was followed by no other home video release for 15 years. Hollywood is an industry that likes to double and triple-dip movie releases on DVD and someone has lost a fortune on this classic which should have been released over 10 years ago. I think even a bare bones release on DVD using the laserdisc transfer would have been acceptable while the film was being restored and remastered. One of the reasons for this delay is the unique history of the way The African Queen was financed. The film was an independent production released in 1951 at a time when the studio system was teetering over the cliff and in its final years. John Huston had the clout to finance an independent production, especially with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn as co-stars. Based on the 1935 novel by C.S. Forester, the property was once owned by Columbia and later Warner Bros. and that's probably were Huston first became interested. Sam Spiegel purchased the film rights and financed the movie. He would later work with David Lean on Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. The film would eventually be distributed by United Artists and go on to win a well deserved Oscar for Humphrey Bogart. The production is well documented in the Hepburn memoir and the 1953 novel by Peter Viertel, White Hunter, Black Heart. The book is a thinly veiled retelling of the making of The African Queen while filming in Africa. This book was made into a terrific 1990 movie directed by and starring Clint Eastwood and makes a great companion to The African Queen. Viertel, a friend of Huston, went on location in Africa to work on the screenplay after original writer James Agee had a heart attack. Viertel's biggest contribution was the climax of the story. The new DVD and Blu-Ray comes with an excellent one-hour documentary, Embracing the Chaos: Making the African Queen. The commemorative box set includes a CD of the 1952 Lux Radio Theater broadcast with Bogart reprising his part from the movie, a set of mini lobby cards, a mini copy of the Hepburn memoir and a Senitype card with four 35mm frames of the restored Technicolor film used to remaster the DVD and Blu-ray. No trailer and I would have enjoyed an audio commentary, but at least the movie is finally out for home viewing. The African Queen looks better than I've ever seen it in the theater on TV or previous home video incarnations. White Hunter, Black Heart White Hunter Black Heart (Ws Dub Sub Dol Ecoa) The Making of the African Queen Or How I Went to Africa With Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind The African Queen: 1400 Headwords (Oxford Bookworms Library)

Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn hook up under unfortunate circumstances in German dominated WW1 Africa. Humphrey Bogart plays a care free easy going free wheeling spirit that runs a boat supplying the natives but is cautious and aware of the situation and is driven motivated by Katherine Hepburn who plays a strong determined driven motivated unmarried missionary who loses her missionary brother and in the process become romantically attracted to each other. They go on a quest to cripple the German forces by blowing up a surveillance ship. They go through problem after problem in this quest and yes get through them but how you have to watch. I found the romantic dialogue and scenes a bit overdone. But perhaps it was necessary to offset the dangers they were facing and went through. I think it was enough to establish the fact they were attracted to and committed to each other. The scenes filmed in Africa were very interesting and more than anything shows the hardships and difficulties of the filming alone and gives reality to the story. Some scenes were filmed in England in a studio/stage setting . I know this is considered one of the greatest movies ever filmed but I could not get into it. I will give it another viewing. What I really found interesting was the bonus feature 'The Making of the African Queen.' This alone is one hour and with the movie makes two and a half hours of viewing time. I suggest watching the bonus feature first. It will give you a better understand of the making of the movie and the movie story itself.

This movie is a well-acted classic that is equal parts adventure and romance. The chemistry is great between Hepburn and Bogart, and the story is transportive to a different time. Now, that different time hasn't aged well in certain scenes, but if you know that going in, this is still a must-see.

Best Bogart film ever 👍🏻

Great classic

JohnHustonDirector determined to shoot an elephant, hard drinking liked filming on location: the CongoRukiRiver near BiondoVillage and LakeAlbertUganda Kabalego Falls(MurchisonFalls) were not accustomed to hosting movie star film crew visits. There were no hotels. Food was scarce. Meat in the pot every night was followed by police who removed the food acquisition specialist, who was hung after local villagers began disappearing during Huston's sojourn. HUAC HouseUnAmericanActivitiesCommittee were deeply interested in Huston Bogart Bacall Hepburn who had given speech about censorship. JamesAgeePulitzerPrize wrote screenplay based on his own parents' relationship, adapting the novel AfricanQueen by CSForester. Agee fell ill, died of a heart attack 16May1955 NewYork taxicab at age 45. PeterViertel wrote the unexpected ending. LaurenBacall traveled with husband HumphreyBogart(1945-1957) to film AfricanQueen1951. Bacall was free of malaria unmentionable dysentery, Army ant and jigger infestations along with Huston and Bogie. Bacall ended up cooking, doing laundry, cutting hair and beards for the film crew who were otherwise dysentery malaria disabled. Bacall created a role for herself as crew nursemaid cook laundrywoman on TreasureOfSierraMadre1948 as well. KatharineHepburn drank only water, not knowing the water purifiers were non-functional and crew were drinking unfiltered poisonous river water. The river water threat to actors forced all scenes in water to be filmed in London. AfricanQueen2010 remaster opening scenes in the MissionChurch with RoseSayer(Hepburn) playing the organ clearly show her dehydration with sunken cheeks. Hepburn had a vomit bucket at her side upchucking between takes then continuing with filming. Hepburn had a personal loo on a separate barge; everyone else used the bushes. Hepburn's loo was dragged behind the flotilla of barges carrying crew, cars ramps ladders cinematographerJackCardiff's Technicolor4x2foot camera 2lamps and generator, AfricanQueen mockup. CharlieAllnut(HumphreyBogart) Canadian hard living unshaven gin-swilling AfricanQueen captain OscarBestActor is a sharp turn from Bogart roles as calm suave tuxedoed deliberate (Casablanca IngridBergman1942 IMDb8.5/10 646,869 ratings, Sabrina AudreyHepburn1954 IMDb7.6/10 74,663 ratings). The rigors of filming in Technicolor required 3rolls of film in 4x2ft monster Technicolor camera, heat, humidity, jiggers in Bogie's feet, ArmyAnt blanketing tents eating anything in their way, elephant trumpeting threats hippos, giraffes, crocodiles, chimpanzees, hunger, fatigue, diarhea vomiting, tent living and using tall grass for toileting, are captured in EmbracingChaos:MakingAfricanQueen 2010 disc remaster hourlong BonusEnglishSubtitles engrossing film itself about the rigors of shooting AfricanQueen IMDb7.7/10 87,919 ratings. The name AfricanQueen was borrowed for MadeInAmerica WhoopiGoldberg TedDanson WillSmith JenniferTilly comedy IMDb5.1/10 18,569 ratings about yearning for an unknown father. AfricanQueen 1h45m is gripping comedic romantic courageous and humbling. Authentic respect and mutual affection leap off the screen between the Bogie and Hepburn. LaurenBacall and KatharinHepburn as friends embody self-supporting competent independent spirit which allows unique devotion toward the one they love, SpencerTracy in Hepburn's case. Bacall was devoted to Bogart. Hepburn's Rosie's initial dismissive missionary disdain toward MrAllnut was curbed by DirectorHuston's suggestion that she act like a Lady. I am a lady insisted Hepburn. Huston replied: think of EleanorRoosevelt. She always thought of herself as an ugly woman. Yet her attitude toward all she met was nurturing accepting smile. Later Hepburn in memoir MakingAfricanQueen: OrHow I WentToAfricaWithBogartBacallHuston and AlmostLostMyMind considers that single simple undecorated direction the most consequential of her acting career. AfricanQueen 5* cinematography captures Africa1951 portrayed as 1914GermanEastAfrica at outset of WWI between Britain and Germany. CanadianRiverboat captain Charlie(HumphreyBogart) and a skinny ugly missionary Rosie(KatharineHepburn) experience growing mutual respect admiration and affection, both as film characters and human beings, amidst the adventure of a lifetime. Two losers achieve patriotic victory.

Simply put, the Blu-Ray remaster of THE AFRICAN QUEEN is the greatest Blu-Ray restoration I have seen so far!! Sure, the restoration is on par with those of CASABLANCA, THE WIZARD OF OZ and GONE WITH THE WIND, but we've seen close restorations of these films over the past 20 or so years. What I'm saying is that - In comparison to the previous DVD release of AFRICAN QUEEN, it is the greatest restoration I have seen!! After reviewing the original DVD release of THE AFRICAN QUEEN from the early-2000's, I was blown away by the amazing difference from this DVD to the Blu-Ray. The original DVD appears not to have been remastered at all, but simply transferred from the film tapes to digital format. It is scratchy, grainy, pixelated and the sound is muted, tinny and in what sounds like is a Mono mix. With the viewing of the Blu-Ray version of the film you will not a crisp, colorful picture (In fact there are colors here that you would have never seen in the film before). There is NO pixelation, distortion or scratches on this film print, even the text during the opening sequence will blow you away!! While Bogart and Hepburn row down the Amazon, we can see beads of sweat on Bogie's forehead, the dirt on his jacket and can see every bit of detail in their clothing!! And the sound is another thing - What we have here is a full 5.1 surround sound mix of the films audio!! If you have a surround system - You will be indulged in the sound that wraps right around you, instead of listening to it through your one tinny front speaker as you would on the DVD version. If you don't have a sound system - simply, the sound will still be stunning. There is no tinniness, it's great to listen to. This restoration makes the film seem brand new!! Anyone who isn't in the know could mistake this for a film made just yesterday!! If you are a fan of this movie, or of the classics - yet you own it on DVD - YOU MUST STILL BUY THIS BLU-RAY!!! You have not seen THE AFRICAN QUEEN until you see this amazing restoration!!