Term "overrated"; it wouldn't be something I would attribute to a film usually as directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart (co-star Katherine Hepburn is another matter). But overtime this little piece of romantic fluff/saga of war-time daring-do has been called one of the greatest American films ever made. And for those who do love it, more power to them. It is a star vehicle first and foremost- and in 1951 if you were going to have two stars for the majority of the running-time these were the two to get- and die-hard fans can praise it as much as they want. But when it comes down to it, the film hasn't aged as well as one might think, and it goes without saying that what was really on Huston's mind during filming (hunting elephants) probably had something to do with the focus coming off of things like, erm, logic. It is a yarn, to be certain, and under the terms of what is "light-hearted" (in quotes because it has some dark undertones) it works out alright. But an all-time classic I think not.
For one thing- and I know I would get some arguing over this- the two stars don't really have that much chemistry. It doesn't help matters that cliché steers the ship; Bogart and Hepburns' characters, Charlie and Rosie, are going down a river where at first they can't stand one another as one is a drunkard on gin and the other is a prissy go-for-it-all who doesn't really see the consequences, AND whenever Bogie somehow gets the African Queen over some rapids she suddenly starts to fall in love with the guy. I don't buy it- when comparing to something like, say, the real McCoy in Bogie and McCall, it doesn't hold a candle. Hepburn, until maybe the second half when she changes gears only slightly, and depending on the risks in the scene, doesn't alter much in her personality. While it is, in a way, a good performance at playing someone who is shrill and prissy, it doesn't help make one care that much about her.
Meanwhile, Bogie is still a pro at what he does (though not Oscar-worthy pro, not up against Brando- the performance that really deserved it was In a Lonely Place, which is sour grapes of course long after the fact). He, and Huston's occasional outbursts of creativity in the simple framework of the script, do make it mildly entertaining; it's a good picture to probably check out on a rainy summer's weekend afternoon with lots of tea (or gin). And there's even a few fascinating bits with the dangers of going down a river in Africa, i.e. the swarming bugs and the leeches as they try and get the boat out of the mud. But by the time of the ending, when the 'what-the-hell' moment happens as the torpedo strikes at the ship at the most unlikely- yet most likely- of moments, I couldn't wait for the recently married to get off the screen. If you haven't seen a film by Huston or with Bogie or Hepburn, look elsewhere to start. If exotic locales and silly romantic river-boat adventure is your game, be my guest.
For one thing- and I know I would get some arguing over this- the two stars don't really have that much chemistry. It doesn't help matters that cliché steers the ship; Bogart and Hepburns' characters, Charlie and Rosie, are going down a river where at first they can't stand one another as one is a drunkard on gin and the other is a prissy go-for-it-all who doesn't really see the consequences, AND whenever Bogie somehow gets the African Queen over some rapids she suddenly starts to fall in love with the guy. I don't buy it- when comparing to something like, say, the real McCoy in Bogie and McCall, it doesn't hold a candle. Hepburn, until maybe the second half when she changes gears only slightly, and depending on the risks in the scene, doesn't alter much in her personality. While it is, in a way, a good performance at playing someone who is shrill and prissy, it doesn't help make one care that much about her.
Meanwhile, Bogie is still a pro at what he does (though not Oscar-worthy pro, not up against Brando- the performance that really deserved it was In a Lonely Place, which is sour grapes of course long after the fact). He, and Huston's occasional outbursts of creativity in the simple framework of the script, do make it mildly entertaining; it's a good picture to probably check out on a rainy summer's weekend afternoon with lots of tea (or gin). And there's even a few fascinating bits with the dangers of going down a river in Africa, i.e. the swarming bugs and the leeches as they try and get the boat out of the mud. But by the time of the ending, when the 'what-the-hell' moment happens as the torpedo strikes at the ship at the most unlikely- yet most likely- of moments, I couldn't wait for the recently married to get off the screen. If you haven't seen a film by Huston or with Bogie or Hepburn, look elsewhere to start. If exotic locales and silly romantic river-boat adventure is your game, be my guest.