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The African Queen (Original title)
Dates: 1951 (Copyright), 10 March 1952 (Release)

Countries: United Kingdom, USA

Directed by: John Huston

Synopsis: Story of the sister of a missionary and a heavy-drinking engineer in Africa during the First World War, who are forced to escape from the Germans down the river in an old boat and conceive a plan to improvise torpedos to attach to the boat in order to attack a German gun-boat in a lake at the river's end.

Genre:
War

Subjects:
World War I, Africa, Tanzania
Releases
Date: 1951Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Colour - Technicolor - SoundRuntime: 103 mins Length: 9270 FeetDialogue (original): English

Credits (70)
©: Romulus Films, a Romulus - Horizon picture: Romulus, Horizon, Romulus presents: Romulus, Distribution controlled by: Independent Film Distributors Ltd, Produced by: S.P. Eagle, [UK Unit Manager]: Ernest Holding, Production Manager: Leigh Aman, Production Manager: T.S. Lyndon-Haynes, [Assistant to Production Manager]: Robert Sterne, [Location Accountant]: Fred Hymns, [Location Manager]: Edward Joseph, V.B. Lyndon-Haynes, [Location Assistant]: Geoffrey Innes, Eric White, [Production Secretary]: Myfanwy Jones, [Producer's Secretary]: Jeanie Sims, [Production Assistant]: Eva Monley, Assistant Director: Guy Hamilton, [Assistant Director (2nd)]: Albert Pearl, [Assistant Director (3rd)]: Bill Herlihy, [Assistant Director (2nd)]: Joe Marks, Continuity: Angela Allen, [Casting Director]: Joyce Knowles, Adapted for the screen by: James Agee, John Huston, [Screenplay Contributions]: John Collier, Based on the novel 'The African Queen' by: C.S. Forester, Director of Photography: Jack Cardiff, Second Unit Photography: Ted Scaife, Camera Operator: Ted Moore, [Camera Operator (2nd Unit Africa)]: Vernon Whitten, [Camera Operator (2nd Unit GB)]: Arthur Graham, [Camera Technician]: George Minassian, [Assistant Camera Technician]: John von Kotze, [Clapper Loader, Studio]: Desmond Davis, [Gaffer]: John Sullivan, [Electrician]: Bill Chitty, Ernie Rainer, [Camera Grip]: Joe Vincent, [Stills]: Arthur Lemon, Special Effects: Cliff Richardson, Editor: Ralph Kemplen, [Assistant Editor]: Roy Hyde, Teddy Obolensky, Art Director: Wilfred Shingleton, Assistant Art Director: John Hoesli, [Draughtsman]: Don Picton, Ron Benton, [Scenic Artist]: George Gresty, [Property Man]: Tom Friewer, [Production Buyer]: Kenneth Tate, [Carpenter]: Harry Arbour, Miss [Katharine] Hepburn's Costumes Designed by: Doris Langley Moore, Other Clothes by: Connie De Pinna, Wardrobe Mistress: Vi Murray, [Wardrobe Master]: George Murray, Make-up: George Frost, Hairdresser: Eileen Bates, Colour by: Technicolor, Music Composed by: Alan Gray, [Music] Played by: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, [Music] Conducted by: Norman Del Mar, Sound Recordist: John Mitchell, [Boom Operator]: Kevin McClory, Sound Editor: Eric Wood, Sound System: Western Electric Recording, [Publicity]: Lillana Wilkie, Filmed at: Isleworth Studios
Cast (11)
Humphrey Bogart (Charlie Allnutt), Katharine Hepburn (Rose Sayer), Robert Morley (Reverend Samuel Sayer, 'the brother'), Peter Bull (German captain of 'Louisa'), Theodore Bikel (German 1st officer of 'Louisa'), Walter Gotell (German 2nd officer of 'Louisa'), Peter Swanwick (first officer of Shona Fort), Richard Marner (second officer of Shona Fort), Gerald Onn (petty officer of 'Louisa'), John von Kotze (German officer), Harry Arbour (German sergeant-major)
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library (17)
In: The Veteran n98 Spring 2003  Pages: 5-6
Title: African adventuresAuthor: JOSEPH, Teddy Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Experiences while filming the AFRICAN QUEEN.

In: Sight and Sound v11 n11 November 2001  Page: 62
Title: Home movies: reviewsAuthor: MACNAB, Geoffrey Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English

In: Cinema Journal v34 n2 Winter 1995  Pages: 3-21
Title: The African Queen and John Huston's FilmmakingAuthor: BRILL, Lesley Article type: ArticleLanguage: English

In: The Perfect Vision v6 n21 Spring 1994  Pages: 128-9
Title: Capsule comments on laserdiscArticle type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Laserdisc review of a special edition.

In: Premiere v5 n7 March 1992  Page: 96
Title: Personal Pick:"The African QueenAuthor: POTTER, Dennis Article type: Short ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Brief article by Dennis Potter about his favourite film THE AFRICAN QUEEN.

In: Televisual January 1988  Page: 20
Title: [Televisual - January 1988: no known title]Article type: NoteLanguage: English
Description: Note to the effect that the boat in the film has been rebuilt to appear in a TV commercial for Buxton spring water

In: Literature/Film Quarterly v10 n1 1982  Pages: 13-24
Title: [Literature/Film Quarterly - v10 n1 1982: no known title]Language: English

In: Jeune Cinéma n40 Jun/Jul 1969  Page: 41
Title: [Jeune Cinéma - n40 Jun/Jul 1969: no known title]Language: French
Description: 1-8 fiche.

In: Filmkritik n10 October 1958  Page: 206
Title: [Filmkritik - n10 October 1958: no known title]Language: German

In: Films et Documents v15 n78 April 1954
Title: [Films et Documents - v15 n78 April 1954: no known title]Language: French

In: Films in Review v3 n2 February 1952
Title: [Films in Review - v3 n2 February 1952: no known title]Language: English

In: Theatre Arts v36 n2 February 1952  Page: 48
Title: [Theatre Arts - v36 n2 February 1952: no known title]Language: English

In: Film Music v11 n4 Mar-Apr 1952  Page: 19
Title: [Film Music - v11 n4 Mar-Apr 1952: no known title]Language: English

In: Sight and Sound v21 n4 Apr/Jun 1952  Page: 172
Title: [Sight and Sound - v21 n4 Apr/Jun 1952: no known title]Language: English

In: Monthly Film Bulletin v19 n217 February 1952  Page: 15
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v19 n217 February 1952: no known title]Language: English

In: Motion Picture Herald v185 n13 29 Dec 1951  Page: 1169
Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v185 n13 29 Dec 1951: no known title]Language: English

In: Variety 26 Dec 1951
Title: [Variety - 26 Dec 1951: no known title]Article type: ReviewLanguage: English


Books held in BFI Reuben Library (4)
Title: Visions of virtue in popular film
Author: Kupfer, Joseph H.  Pages: vii-xi, 236p.

Title: making of the African Queen: or how I went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and huston and almost lost my mind
Author: HEPBURN, Katharine  Pages: 133 pages

Title: Agee on film, volume two; five film scripts
Author: AGEE, James  Pages: x,489p.
Description: The AFRICAN QUEEN pp. 149-260

Title: John Huston: essays on a restless director
Author: TRACY, Tony  Pages: vi, 226 p.


Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(13)
Video materials(2)
Description: VHS cassetteColour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-561375
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status


Description: Digital BetacamBFI identifier: N-376876
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape



Film materials(11)
Description: Original Magenta Separation NegativeBase: MixedSound: MuteLength: 918 FeetStock date: 1951BFI identifier: C-1293362
Status: On loan - Restricted access to film on loan to BFI


Description: 35mm Colour PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 9404 FeetStock date: 1971BFI identifier: C-792
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film


Description: 35mm Cyan Separation MatrixBase: SafetySound: MuteLength: 8360 FeetBFI identifier: C-560271
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film


Description: 35mm Cyan Separation MatrixBase: SafetySound: MuteLength: 230 FeetBFI identifier: C-1172456
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film


Description: 35mm Magenta Separation MatrixBase: SafetySound: MuteLength: 9060 FeetBFI identifier: C-1172454
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film


Description: 35mm Magenta Separation MatrixBase: SafetySound: MuteLength: 230 FeetBFI identifier: C-1172457
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film


Description: 35mm Original Cyan Separation NegativeBase: MixedSound: MuteLength: 918 FeetStock date: 1951BFI identifier: C-1293361
Status: On loan - Restricted access to film on loan to BFI


Description: 35mm Original NegativeBase: CTASound: SoundLength: 208 FeetStock date: 1951BFI identifier: C-500520
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film


Description: 35mm Original Yellow Separation NegativeBase: MixedSound: MuteLength: 918 FeetStock date: 1951BFI identifier: C-1293360
Status: On loan - Restricted access to film on loan to BFI


Description: 35mm Yellow Separation MatrixBase: SafetySound: MuteLength: 230 FeetBFI identifier: C-1172458
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film


Description: 35mm Yellow Separation MatrixBase: SafetySound: MuteLength: 9060 FeetBFI identifier: C-1172455
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film