Film Reviews on the African Queen, Pride and Prejudice and the Grand Illusion
The African Queen (1951)
The African Queen is considered a classic by many film forums. Forums like The American Film Institute and Four Star Movies: 101 Greatest Films of All Time has this film listed as one of the greatest. Where the film really draws the attention is the acting by Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn, two unlikely actors to come together with enough chemistry to form a sweet love story. The film was the first color film for both actors and the film was Hepburn 's official transition into much more mature roles. With the film 's two main characters, Charlie and Rose, having the quintessential love hate relationship in a complicated world, The African Queen creates the classic Hollywood theme of a love story. With the story written during and for a time of war it includes the realistic tone that every film should have. The African Queen is considered a classic, but some of its elements may suggest that it may be given too much credit. I have always liked Humphrey Bogart in every film he 's done. From The Maltese Falcon to my absolute favorite of Casablanca, I was excited to discover another Bogart film that I predicted would be another great movie of his I could love. I was also excited to see Katherine Hepburn, who I 've grown to really like and admire, in another film after watching Guess Who 's Coming to Dinner and On Golden Pond. But this film disappointed me. Maybe I had overestimated it and expected too much, or this film may be given too much credit. The script 's dialogue is fun and at times inspiring to hear, but sometimes a little too juvenile and predictable. My favorite dialogue of the film had to be Katherine Hepburn 's line, "Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put into this world to rise above," which can still be considered an inspiring and thoughtful concept today in a peaceful world and a world of war. My least favorite line is when Rose asks Mr. Allnut what his first name is and after he tells her, she repeats it like a
The African Queen is considered a classic by many film forums. Forums like The American Film Institute and Four Star Movies: 101 Greatest Films of All Time has this film listed as one of the greatest. Where the film really draws the attention is the acting by Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn, two unlikely actors to come together with enough chemistry to form a sweet love story. The film was the first color film for both actors and the film was Hepburn 's official transition into much more mature roles. With the film 's two main characters, Charlie and Rose, having the quintessential love hate relationship in a complicated world, The African Queen creates the classic Hollywood theme of a love story. With the story written during and for a time of war it includes the realistic tone that every film should have. The African Queen is considered a classic, but some of its elements may suggest that it may be given too much credit. I have always liked Humphrey Bogart in every film he 's done. From The Maltese Falcon to my absolute favorite of Casablanca, I was excited to discover another Bogart film that I predicted would be another great movie of his I could love. I was also excited to see Katherine Hepburn, who I 've grown to really like and admire, in another film after watching Guess Who 's Coming to Dinner and On Golden Pond. But this film disappointed me. Maybe I had overestimated it and expected too much, or this film may be given too much credit. The script 's dialogue is fun and at times inspiring to hear, but sometimes a little too juvenile and predictable. My favorite dialogue of the film had to be Katherine Hepburn 's line, "Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put into this world to rise above," which can still be considered an inspiring and thoughtful concept today in a peaceful world and a world of war. My least favorite line is when Rose asks Mr. Allnut what his first name is and after he tells her, she repeats it like a
Bibliography: Kinn, Gail, and Jim Piazza. Four-Star Movies: The 101 Greatest Films of All Time. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal Publishes, Inc., 2003. 123-125. Pellum, Tony. "Fading Stars, Plodding Adventures." Toxic Universe. 06 July 2003. Toxic Universe.com. 23 Feb. 2006 . "The African Queen (1951)." Internet Movie Database. 1990. Amazon. 21 Feb. 2006 . "The African Queen (1951)." Reel Classics. 15 July 2005. Reel Classics L.L.C. 21 Feb. 2006 . "Pride and Prejudice (2005)." Internet Movie Database. Amazon. 28 Feb. 2006 . "Pride and Prejudice." Monsters and Critics. 10 Nov. 2005. WotR, Ltd. 28 Feb. 2006 . Rottenberg, Josh. "Oscar 2006: Best Actress." Entertainment Weekly 10 Feb. 2006: 36+. Kinn, Gail, and Jim Piazza. Four-Star Movies: The 101 Greatest Films of All Time. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal, 2003. 276-278. Slantchev, Branislav L. "Grand Illusion (La Grande Illusion, 1937)."Gotterdammerung.org. 29 July 2004. Harusame. .