The African Queen Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The African Queen Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 21, 2019

John Huston's "The African Queen" (1951) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include new video interviews with critics Kim Newman and Neil Sinyard; video interview with co-screenwriter Peter Viertel; documentary on the making of the film; and more. The release also arrives with a 60-page illustrated book featuring archival writings on the film and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) is a loner who lives on an old boat in East Africa. He makes ends meet by trading whatever the locals need. Occasionally, he would also deliver the mail to brother and sister English missionaries Rosie (Katharine Hepburn) and Samuel Sayer (Robert Morley). One day, while visiting the village where they live the Germans show up and seriously injure Samuel. When he dies, Charlie offers to take Rosie with him.

In the beginning, there is plenty of tension between Charlie and Rosie. For a while, she calls him "Mr. Allnut", while he calls her "Missus". Then, after she dumps his stash of gin in the river, and he shaves, the two warm up to each other. They also agree to sink Queen Louisa, a German ship patrolling the area right where the river and the ocean meet.

But to get to Queen Louisa Charlie and Rosie must travel down the Ulonga-Bora river - and this isn’t easy. They have to pass by a German fort and various very dangerous rapids and survive Mother Nature’s wrath. During the journey, Charlie and Rosie fall madly in love with each other.

John Huston's The African Queen is highly regarded by many, but its script is actually somewhat problematic. The story the film tells is hard to believe because, among other things, many of the dilemmas the two protagonist face during their journey are essentially solved with pure magic. Specifically during the second half, where the African Queen survives some incredibly dangerous looking rapids, it is next to impossible to take the film seriously.

The great chemistry between Bogart and Hepburn, however, basically makes the film work. Early on, in particular, there are a few sequences where the two argue and then hug and kiss that are simply terrific. The two exchange some quite witty one-liners as well.

Lensed by the great cinematographer Jack Cardiff, the film looks spectacular. Some of the best sequences in it were shot on location in Uganda and the Belgian Congo, while others were filmed in Isleworth Studios, London. The lush sequences from Uganda and the Belgian Congo very much remind about another terrific looking Technicolor film also from 1951, Jean Renoir’s The River, which was shot on location in India.

The film is complimented by a very fine music score by Allan Gray, who is probably best known for his multiple collaborations with Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, Stairway to Heaven). The main themes are particularly good, but are often overtaken by various nature sounds or the boat’s noisy engine.

In 1952, The African Queen earned Bogart his one and only Academy Award. Hepburn was only nominated for one.

In 2009, The African Queen was restored in 4K by Paramount Pictures, in association with ITV Studios Global Entertainment. The restoration was supervised by Ron Smith, the then-current vice president of Restoration for Paramount Pictures. During the restoration, the film’s legendary cinematographer was brought in as a consultant. He passed away on April 22, 2009.

The African Queen Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG04 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The African Queen arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.

The release is sourced from the 4K restoration that Paramount Pictures completed in association with ITV Studios Global Entertainment in 2009. In the United Kingdom, the restoration was initially introduced on Blu-ray ITV Studios Home Entertainment. (You can see our review of this release here).

After viewing this release, I can confirm that there are no meaningful discrepancies to point out in our review. The basic qualities of presentation are identical -- clarity, depth, and stability are all very nice. This time I was also able to compare these releases on a larger screen, so it was much easier for me to focus on smaller details and nuances. The color grading is very nice and in this area again there are no discrepancies. Fluidity is very good as well, though I think that if this film ever makes it to 4K Blu-ray this would be the area where on a big screen there would be a noticeable strengthening of the visuals. All in all, this is still a very nice 4K restoration that makes it a treat to revisit the film. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The African Queen Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

Because the Mono track is encoded as 2.0 in some areas the sound feels a bit more compact, but this isn't an improvement. Clarity, depth, and stability are still excellent. Perhaps during the storm now the Mono track can fool some viewers that it sounds clearer, but the effect comes from the encoding separation. There are no audio dropouts, hiss, or distortions to report.

The African Queen Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - the late Jack Cardiff discusses in great detail how specific sequences from The African Queen were shot, the various technical obstacles the tech crew had to overcome in the Belgian Congo, the diseases the actors struggled with during the shooting, some of the similarities and differences between C.S. Forester's novel and the film, etc. A truly fascinating audio commentary.

• Neil Sinyard on The African Queen - in this new video interview, critic Neil Sinyard discusses the conception of The African Queen and the work that John Huston did on the film. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Kim Newman on The African Queen - in this new video interview, critic Kim Newman discusses The African Queen and highlights some of its special qualities as well as its impact on other, now considered classics, films. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).

• Interview with Co-screenwriter Peter Viertel - in this video interview, co-screenwriter Peter Viertel remembers his collaboration with John Huston on The African Queen. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Interview with Angelica Huston and Angela Allen - presented here is an archival audio interview with Angelica Huston and Angela Allen, which was conducted by Adrian Wootton after a screening of The African Queen at the National Film Theatre in London in 2010. The bulk of the information that is shared in the interview addresses the production history of the film and its success. In English, not subtitled. (31 min).

• Embracing Chaos: Making The African Queen - an outstanding in-depth look at the production history of The African Queen, with various comments by Martin Scorsese, Jack Cardiff, film historian Rudy Behlmer, writer/director Nicholas Meyer, Bogart Biographer Eric Lax, assistant director Guy Hamilton, and actor/director/producer Norman Lloyd, among others. In English, not tubtitled. (60 min).

• Lux Radio Theatre Adaptation - presented here is an archival Lux Radio adaptation of The African Queen which aired on December 15, 1952, In English, not subtitled. (60 min).

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for The African Queen. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Music and Effects Track - presented as LPCM 2.0.

• Book - 60-page illustrated book featuring archival writings on the film and technical credits.

The African Queen Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Eureka Entertainment's new release of The African Queen is sourced from the 4K restoration of the film that ITV Studios Home Entertainment introduced a decade ago. (It was completed in 2009 and transferred to Blu-ray in 2010). However, there are additional bonus features on it, plus an exclusive 60-page illustrated book, that I think fans of the film will appreciate. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.