The story unfolds in colonial Africa during World War One, close to Lake Tanganyika, an area where the boundaries between Rhodesia (British), the Belgian Congo, and Tanganyika (German) were established. It starts with a German assault on a village inhabited by Protestant missionaries in Rhodesia. Following this attack, a British boatman, who owns a steam barge called “African Queen” used for river transport, arrives.…

I recently watched this film at the BFI in London, and it really shines when viewed on a large screen. The movie is largely built around Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, who find themselves needing to flee advancing German East African troops during World War One by traveling downriver on a boat that’s barely functional, relying on luck and ingenuity. Robert Morley appears briefly early on, delivering a perform…

A truly remarkable movie featuring major stars at the top of their game. Following World War One in East Africa, Rose Sayer needs gruff steamboat captain Charlie Allnut to help her escape danger and return to safety after her brother is killed by German soldiers. They are very different people; she’s a dedicated missionary, while he's a hard-drinking man with a mischievous look about him. As they travel further do…