Classic Film Update: "The African Queen" (1951)

Okay, so even though I'd seen it before (a few times, in fact), I was all over this movie. This is one movie that I'm REALLY annoyed is not on DVD yet, because it is a brilliant film. One that I could easily watch again and again.First off, it's a fantastic story. Reluctant drunken hero meets prissy tea-totter missionary woman and together they go downriver in a dumpy, beat-up boat, intent on ramming a German ship and blowing it up using some home-made 'torpedos'. All sorts of excitement along the way, of course, including rapids they had no business in, being shot at from a fort, thick grass and reeds that they had to pull the boat through, leaches, etc. In the end, their heroic plan doesn't work out...but THEY do. Illustrating once again that love is sometimes found in the most unlikely of places. HA!Secondly, this movie could not have been cast any better. Katharine Hepburn made the PERFECT prim and proper Rosie....and she did an EXCELLENT job with the characters evolution into one who was alot less uptight...and alot more adventuresome and tolerant.And what can I say about Humphrey Bogart in this film? He won an Oscar for his role in "The African Queen", for one thing - his Charlie Allnut was just fantastic. Unshaven, dirty, mannerless, uncouth, drunken, and oftentimes just plain gross. But underneath it all, a good hearted person - a hero, in fact...who was only released by Rosie.This film is probably my third favorite Bogart picture - I like "Casablanca" and "To Have and Have Not" a bit more (although in fairness, I like "To Have and Have Not" mostly because of Lauren Bacall). But in terms of Bogart's particular *roles* in the three films, IMO, "The African Queen's" Charlie Allnut and "Casablanca's" Rick are two of the best characters in all of classic film.An excellent movie, I think. And a great vehicle, IMO, for the uninitiated to get into classic film, if they so desire.And THIS time, I was smart enough to burn the doggone thing to DVD, so I would no longer be at TCM's mercy. :D