--- title: "The African Queen: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-african-queen/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-african-queen" critics_score: 85 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The African Queen (1952): what the critics said Critics' score 85 from 14 reviews: 14 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The consensus on The African Queen is warmly positive, with all fourteen reviews finding much to enjoy in John Huston’s romantic adventure. Praise centres on Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn: their awkward chemistry, sparring dialogue and growing affection give the river journey its humour and warmth. Critics repeatedly credit the performances with making the mismatched pair convincing, even when the story stretches belief. The African locations and Technicolor imagery also draw praise, while several reviews admire Huston’s handling of the action. The differences concern how fully the filmmaking matches the leads. Time Out finds some sequences under-directed, while Sight and Sound argues that realism and fantasy never quite form a satisfactory whole. The New York Times is more sceptical about the romance’s plausibility. The spread runs from qualified enjoyment to wholehearted enthusiasm; even the more reserved reviews find substantial pleasure in the performances, setting or adventure. ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★★. 22 November 2019. The pleasure and brilliance of John Huston’s The African Queen resides in observing these two peerless performers sparring at their most authoritative before eventually collapsing into a snog. The action scenes are expertly handled. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-african-queen-1951-review-two-peerless-performers-sparring-at-their-most-authoritative-h0stcg7bp) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 2012. The film is an almost perfect illustration of how much a really good movie can please, thanks to Bogart and Hepburn turning an adventure story into comedy through their chemistry and personalities. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/african-queen-still-reigns) ## Slant Magazine — Matthew Connolly Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 February 2011. The critic praises the star chemistry and playful banter between Bogart and Hepburn, along with Huston's eye for the Technicolor jungle locations in this restoration. It singles out the performances for balancing trademark mannerisms with fresh warmth and humor. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-african-queen/) ## The AV Club — Noel Murray Rating A-. 24 March 2010. The review highlights the film's classic Hollywood charm and the endearing, awkward chemistry between Bogart and Hepburn as mismatched leads on a river adventure. It notes the screenplay's simplicity and the performances' appeal at a transitional moment in film history. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-african-queen-1798164543) ## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 February 2017. The critic calls the film top-flight entertainment full of excitement, adventure, and superlative performances from Hepburn and Bogart. Direction and script are praised for resourcefulness with the two leads and vivid action. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/african-queen-1951-review-977712/) ## The Telegraph Rating ****. 3 March 2011. Humphrey Bogart bagged his Oscar as a gin-swilling riverboat captain squaring off against Katharine Hepburn’s snooty missionary in John Huston’s grand, propulsive and plumly-restored slice of Technicolor derring-do. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/8360209/The-African-Queen-review.html) ## Variety — William Brogdon Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 1951. This offbeat story of adventure and romance is an engrossing motion picture with unassuming warmth; Bogart and Hepburn are seen to best advantage as the mismatched pair who accomplish the impossible. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1951/film/reviews/the-african-queen-1200417092/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 3 March 2011. John Huston's adventure yarn starring Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart has been spruced up for its 50th anniversary and is still fantastic. It is a ripping, gripping yarn, a surprisingly erotic love story, with tremendous courage and lip-quivering vulnerability from Hepburn singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/mar/03/the-african-queen-film-review) ## The New Yorker — John McCarten Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 February 1952. Hepburn and Bogart deliver remarkable performances that carry the picture; Huston works in topographical detail from the African location while keeping the mismatched partners' story entertaining. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1952/02/23/barging-through-the-congo) ## Time Out — Wally Hammond Rating 4/5. 1 March 2011. The restored film is a sprightly romantic adventure with strong performances from Bogart and Hepburn, though some sequences are under-directed; praised for its Technicolor imagery and sound. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-african-queen-1) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The film is a charming curio rather than a Hollywood event, succeeding primarily as a character piece thanks to its great story and the sparks between its lead actors. Huston handles the direction with good form, letting the mismatched duo's romance, comedy and thriller elements flow naturally amid the African setting. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/african-queen-review/) ## Sight and Sound — Clarissa Bowen Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 April 1952. The critic accepts the story's improbabilities and praises the brilliant performances of Hepburn and Bogart, but notes that the film wavers between realism and fantasy without fully resolving them into a satisfactory whole. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/reviews/releases/african-queen.php) ## The New York Times — Bosley Crowther Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 February 1952. Huston's lively screen version is a slick job of movie hoodwinking with an implausible romance set in a frame of wild adventure; the genuine African atmosphere helps make it popular. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1952/02/21/archives/the-african-queen-starring-humphrey-bogart-katharine-hepburn-at-the.html) ## Eye for Film — Max Blinkhorn Rating Five stars are not enough. 7 March 2011. Festival review. It is a classic feel-good film for grown-ups and a real treat in digitally restored form. The critic singles out the genuine, tangible affection and chemistry between Hepburn and Bogart that produces film magic. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-african-queen-film-review-by-max-blinkhorn) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-african-queen.md