MAGNET contributing writer Jud Cost is sharing some of the wealth of classic films he’s been lucky enough to see over the past 40 years. Trolling the backwaters of cinema, he has worked up a list of more than 500 titles—from the silent era through the ’90s—that you may have missed. A new selection, all currently available on DVD, appears every week.
The African Queen (1951, 105 minutes)
To an outsider’s ear, an unholy racket streams from inside a rustic church constructed entirely of local reeds tied together with leaves gathered from the jungle surrounding the tiny African village. It’s really a Christian hymn being conducted by Reverend Samuel Sayer of the Methodist church of Kungdu, but sung by an all-black congregation of villagers with no ear for the European musical tone system.
Sayer’s sister Rose, the other half of this missionary tandem, plays a modest pipe organ and tries her best to overcome the massed vocal din by belting out the ancient hymn in a strong contralto. Suddenly the piercing whistle of the African Queen, a modest river launch, rises above the noise, punctuating the end of the church service. The boat’s skipper, Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart), tosses the butt end of his cigar to the ground as he walks toward the church, inciting a riot to retrieve the stogie among a dozen natives lounging around outside.
“Hello, reverend,” says the unshaven Allnut, grimy from his trip up the river. “Here’s your mail. Sorry I’m late, but you know how it is—or maybe you don’t.” “Good morning, Mr. Allnut,” beams Rose (Katharine Hepburn). “Ahh, they’ve come at last, my roses,” she says, accepting a dry, long-stemmed bundle from Allnut.
The Sayers invite the skipper to tea. Awkward among this company, Allnut’s insides begin to growl as Rose pours and offers him a biscuit. “Just listen to this stomach of mine,” he chuckles. “You’d think I had a hyena inside of me.” As he declines an invitation to stay for dinner, Allnut tells the reverend, “I guess I won’t be coming back this way for a couple of months.” “Really?! Why not? What abut our mail!” complains the pastor (Robert Morley). “Doesn’t look like there’s going to be any mail. The Germans will hold it up on account of the war,” Allnut explains. “War?! What war!” both Sayers demand, almost in unison. “Well,” says Allnut, scratching his beard to remember, “Germany and … England.” Very agitated, the reverend asks, “You really mean war?” Allnut answers, “Yeah, that’s what they tell me. The Germans say the English started it, and the English claim it was the Germans.”
“That’s all you can tell us? I wonder what our position will be as enemy aliens,” inquires the padre desperately. Trying to calm their fears, Allnut says, “What harm could anyone do the Germans in this God-forsaken place?” Rose bristles, “God has not forsaken this place, Mr. Allnut, as my brother’s presence here bears witness!” But she asks her brother as Allnut returns to the river and his boat: “Shouldn’t we try to get to Limbasi while we still can?” Her brother answers bluntly, “The good Lord doesn’t desert his flock while the wolves are on the prowl.”
