In 1914, Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn) is an English missionary in Africa. When the Germans come and attack and destroy the village where Rose lives, Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart), a gin swilling owner of a decrepit steam boat offers to to let her sail with him to somewhere safe. Charlie just wants to find somewhere where he can hide out and wait for the war to be over – but Rose decides that they should use the steamboat – The African Queen of the title – to launch an attack on a German ship. Rose and Charlie are mismatched travellers – she is uptight and repressed, while he is a lazy alcoholic – but as they journey together, they both learn a bit about themselves and each other.
I can’t believe that I haven’t seen this film before now – it’s regarded as a real classic, and I can certainly see why. I enjoyed every minute of it. The storyline is dramatic and thrilling, as Charlie and Rosie navigate hostile waters, dangerous rapids, and enemy territory, but it’s also romantic (this is REAL movie romance – no sex or frenzied ripping off of each other’s clothes, but looks and gestures that are no nuanced and say so much), and surprisingly funny. Many of the one liners made me laugh out loud.
Bogart and Hepburn are both exceptional in their roles. Bogart makes the audience really care for a man who, on paper, should not be hero material (and maybe that’s part of the point). Hepburn meanwhile, plays Rose with real class, and it’s interesting to see the character’s shift from unapproving repression to a woman who wants to be adventurous and embrace life. By far this is the most sympathetic role I’ve ever seen Katharine Hepburn play – I often find her to be quite cold, but here she strikes exactly the right chord.
For the most part, the film consists of just these two fine actors, but the dialogue and interaction between them is such that you don’t feel any other characters are needed. This is Charlie and Rose’s story and a most enjoyable one it is too.
The ending is totally satisfying and ties up all the emotions and events in a perfect way. If you haven’t seen this lovely film yet, go and rent it right now – I’m sure you won’t regret it!
Year of release: 1951
Director: John Huston
Writers: C.S. Forrester (book), James Agee, John Huston, Peter Viertel, John Collier
Main cast: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn
Between the Pages 
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