Okay, so I admit that "The African Queen" is pure escapism, but you gotta love it. Katharine Hepburn plays Rose Sayer, a prim and proper missionary in German East Africa with her brother (Robert Morley) in 1914. Suddenly, right after they receive news that war has broken out in Europe, the German army comes in and demolishes their settlement. After the brother dies, hard-drinking stubbly sailor Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) comes in and agrees to take Rose down the river. Along the way, they bicker about various things (she's disgusted by his drinking, he finds her too pious), but they grow to respect each other.
Bogart and Hepburn pretty much play their usual roles, and the movie also stars a few crocodiles (most of the movie was filmed on location in Africa). The portrayal of the German army certainly seems to be an allusion to the Nazis. But overall, the movie is quite admirable, with Rose's and Charlie's personalities bouncing off of each other. It's like an early buddy comedy, even though it's serious.
Bogart and Hepburn pretty much play their usual roles, and the movie also stars a few crocodiles (most of the movie was filmed on location in Africa). The portrayal of the German army certainly seems to be an allusion to the Nazis. But overall, the movie is quite admirable, with Rose's and Charlie's personalities bouncing off of each other. It's like an early buddy comedy, even though it's serious.