The African Queen

~ Movie Review ~

The African Queen
What can I say about this movie? To call it a "classic" is an understatement. The African Queen is quite frankly one of the best movies of all time. The film stars Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, and if you don't know who they are, I feel sorry for you. Of all the movies I've reviewed so far, this is the best, and I'm trying to think of how to describe it without adding too many spoilers...

THE AFRICAN QUEEN is set in central Africa during World War I. Rose Sayer (Hepburn), and her brother Samuel are English missionaries in a village in German East Africa in 1914. Their mail and supplies are delivered by captain Charlie Allnut (Bogart) of the African Queen. He warns them that German troops will soon invade, but the Sayers choose to stay, only to witness the Germans burning down the village. When Samuel protests, he is beaten by a German soldier. After the Germans leave, Samuel becomes delirious and dies. Soon afterward, Charlie returns, and after helping Rose bury her brother, they set off in the African Queen. Charlie tells Rose that the Germans have a gunboat, the Empress Luisa, which patrols a large lake downriver, effectively blocking any British counterattacks. Rose comes up with a plan to convert the Queen into a torpedo boat and sink the Luisa. Charlie points out that navigating the river would be suicidal: to reach the lake they would have to pass a German fort and negotiate several dangerous rapids. But Rose is insistent...

This move has everything; action, adventure, drama, and romance. The scene with all the bottles of gin will live on forever in movie history, and the ending could not have been more perfect. I've seen it at least five times, and I doubt that anyone who watches it will be disappointed.

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. *****

~*Quote of the day*~

Charlie: We can't do that!

Rose: How do you know? You never tried it.

Charlie: Well, yeah, but I never tried shooting myself in the head neither.
The African Queen
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For the spoiler Quote, highlight the white text below.

Captain of Louisa: By the authority vested in me by Kaiser William II, I pronounce you man and wife. Proceed with the execution.
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~*Word of the day*~

Ni (Japanese)

Meaning: Two

Currently Listening to... "They" - Jem

To: Oddjob - Thanks for the tip.