#65 The African Queen (1951)

Maybe I should stop reading the Netflix sleeves before watching these movies because I was prepared for an exciting, action-packed movie. In reality, it was a romantic comedy with only a few scenes of real action.

Rose (Katharine Hepburn) and her brother are Methodist missionaries in an African village in 1914. Charlie (Humphrey Bogart) is the boat captain who brings them mail and supplies, and one day at afternoon tea, he mentions to Rose and her brother that WWI has started. Pretty much immediately after Charlie leaves tea, German soldiers come into the African village, kill the women and children, kidnap the men, and burn the village to the ground. Rose's brother is so distraught that he kills himself, so Rose is left all alone in the village. Luckily, Charlie shows up and offers to help Rose get to safety.

They decide to travel together on Charlie's boat down the river to escape German-ruled Africa. Of course, they face all kinds of hurdles along the way. And as they go along, prissy Rose and dirty Charlie become friends and eventually fall in love.

The beginning and end of this movie were pretty awesome, but I have to admit that the middle dragged a little. Overall, though, not bad. I'd watch it again.

One thing I couldn't get over was how unattractive Humphrey Bogart is in this movie. He just looks sketchy and dirty. Not my type at all. :) Katharine Hepburn wasn't looking her best, either.

Rating: 7/10

Big Names: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn