The African Queen
The African Queen tells of the romantic yet perilous adventure of Miss Sayer and Mr. Allnut. Quintessential opposites, Miss Sayer is a missionary who misses the peace and quiet of Sunday afternoons in her native home, and Mr. Allnut is a riverboat captain who misses the party atmosphere of Saturday night.
The British Reverend Samuel Sayer (Robert Morley) and his sister, Rose (Katharine Hepburn) have lived for ten years with their African congregation in a clearing with straw huts, a chapel, and a vegetable garden.
Their contact with the outside world comes to them by way of a thirty-foot river steamboat, the African Queen, captained by Charles Allnut (Humphrey Bogart). A former machinist in an African gold mine, Mr. Allnut travels the Ulana River delivering supplies and mail to the mines and villages, announcing his arrival by blowing his steamboat whistle.
Late in the summer of 1914, World War I reaches the village. German soldiers burn down the huts and chapel and capture the African men, who are forced to wage battle for the Germans. The reverend becomes ill, delirious, and dies.
Mr. Allnut’s attitude toward the native people in the first scene, regrettably, but accurately, reflects the lack of respect with which people from “cultured” countries often regard the people of third-world countries.
Insensitivity such as this sits at the foundation of imperialism with its forced labor, environmental destruction, and the seizing of natural resources. During the Great War many countries engaged in the wide-spread aggressive action, but in this particular story the Germans have been singled out as an example of the perpetrators of this callousness.
Mr. Allnut persuades Miss Sayer to leave with him before the Germans can return and confiscate his boat. She collects a few belongings and boards the boat whose cargo consists of gin and blasting gelatin.
With good manners and the ritual of tea, Mr. Allnut and Miss Sayer begin their journey. While he tends to the engine, she learns to read the river and safely steer the steamboat through channels of hazardous rocks and fallen trees.
With a patriotism for her country and a need for justice for all that was lost in the village raid, Miss Sayer takes up the idea to travel the entire length of the long and treacherous river and, upon reaching the lake, to fashion torpedoes from two cylinders of oxygen on board and use them to sink the Louisa, a patrolling German gun ship.
Mr. Allnut agrees, believing she will change her mind when they pass through the rapids.
However, Miss Sayer proves to be adept at the tiller and finds the physical challenge of running the rapids exhilarating. She wants to continue.
Fearing for their lives should they pass the German fort, Mr. Allnut takes back his promise and proceeds to drink too much gin. While he sleeps, Miss Sayer empties the several remaining cases of gin into the river. His response is to shave and attend to housekeeping duties, all the while singing the praises of having a woman on board to bring order to his life. She refuses to be sweet talked. He gives in to her wishes.
Nearing the German fort, they hug the opposite shore. They duck down low in the boat to ride out the shower of bullets. The engine stops when a bullet strikes a hose, causing them to drift until Mr. Allnut can make repairs. A bend in the river delivers them from the enemy, but soon their little boat thrashes about in rapids far more turbulent than the previous ones.
When they reach calm waters, Miss Sayer and Mr. Allnut get carried away in celebration and wrap themselves in each other’s arms.
Rosie and Charlie must overcome the perils of warring men, a fickle natural environment, and bad luck. They encounter a greater number of dangerous trials than most couples experience in a lifetime, trials that threaten their safety, stamina, and civility. With a difference in outlooks and goals, their tempers flare. Trapped on a rickety boat, their resolve, at times, weakens.
But when one displays craft or ingenuity, the other expresses compliments for a job done with skill and grace. When one becomes discouraged, the other extends small acts of tenderness to soothe the stresses and restore energy. As an offering of love and appreciation, they point out to each other the scent of flowers and the nearness of the stars. Despite their hardships, laughter accompanies them down the river.
As they near the lake, Rosie and Charlie must prepare themselves for the most dangerous task of their short time together. Will they successfully complete their reckless mission? Will they survive to tell their grandchildren?
Elements of romance, drama, comedy, and suspense taking place within the lush beauty of a rugged natural environment make this adventure film a classic like no other. Adapted from the title book written by C. S. Forester, The African Queen was nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay. John Huston was nominated for Best Director. Katharine Hepburn was nominated for Best Actress, and Humphrey Bogart won an Oscar for Best Actor.
Ms. Hepburn’s book, The Making of The African Queen or How I went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and almost lost my mind, is nearly as entertaining as the movie. It contains the details of three months of movie-making dedication and merriment accompanied by forty-five photographs, making it a national bestseller.