The African Queen (1951)

The African Queen dealt with romance among mature adults in their forties. A ne'er do well river pilot on a ramshackle boat and the spinster sister of a missionary, thrown together by the circumstance of war.
It is the story of love born between two unlikely human beings amidst intense battles against nature and the Germans.Charlie Allnut (Bogart) and Rose Sayer (Hepburn) have no business ever even speaking to each other under normal circumstances. He being the gruff, unkempt lush Canadian "captain" of a one man ship, The African Queen, and she being the somewhat haughty, prim and proper British sister of a missionary killed by the Germans in Africa in the first World War.
What is it that makes this film so great? It's all Bogart and Hepburn. Of the roughly 100 minutes of film, it's them and them alone for about 90.Both, especially Bogart, lose themselves in the roles completely.The river and the jungle's harshly real environment made Bogart and Hepburn's performances all the better.
Oddly, while "African Queen" had a strong beginning and ending, it was its incredible MIDDLE that made it such a classic. It is in its middle sections that "African Queen" wins our hearts. Here we see Rose lose her annoyingly prim composure during a vicious bug attack. We watch Rose and Charlie's first kiss and see their initially awkward love blossom into something comfortable and natural.
I for one became attached to the duo's journey - who can forget the episode with the leeches, the sheer disgust and fear on Bogie's face when he first realises the critters are on him, and the slow realisation he has to go back into the water to get the boat moving. Masterful acting it really is.
Like Aguirre the Wrath of God, and Apocalypse Now this movie studies the effects of being isolated with the forces of nature through a long ride down a dangerous river.
And, while the eleventh hour ending may be a bit far-fetched, we don't mind. These two have earned a victorious ending, however it is delivered!
3.5/5 bogart rules.