The African Queen Background

The film was shocking in the sense that this was one of the first mainstream productions to be filmed on location in Africa. However, to film it was very demanding due to the hot and humid climate, the presence of wild beasts, and most importantly the communication problems with the native tribes who had no idea what it meant to be part of a Movie-making team.

Nevertheless, the film was an extraordinary success, which could be explained by many factors and influences. Bogart is awarded the Best Actor Oscar, the film receives four Academy Award nominations. It was a critics’ darling and a commercial hit grossing at par with some of the most successful films of the year 1951.

Nevertheless, The African Queen is not as revered as it was before, although the movie has aged well. In AFI’s list that was compiled in 1998, this movie was ranked at position 17 out of the 100 greatest American films. But in the next ten years, it had declined to # 65 on the new list. Though it is a classic, it may not have advanced the action-adventure category as much as the latter has progressed after it. As opposed to classics that continue to be listed as some of the best of all time and currently on IMDb’s list of 250 favorite movies, The African Queen is long forgotten.

However, the movie remains a prime example of what Hollywood is capable of accomplishing in terms of an on-screen production. Shooting on location in Africa was something that added a level of realism never to be achieved in a studio in California. The technical difficulties and the overall theme and visuals of the film were consistent with the realist approach and the plot that tells the story of two outcasts on a dangerous mission in the jungle. Huston was able to gain fabulous performances from one of the greatest screen couples of the cinema Bogart and Hepburn. The African Queen is among the most impressive examples of how Hollywood from time to time can create true movie miracles.