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The African Queen

The African Queen

Adventure · Romance · War · 1952

At the start of the First World War, in the middle of Africa’s nowhere, a gin soaked riverboat captain is persuaded by a strong-willed missionary to go down river and face-off a German warship.

Movie details

The African Queen

“The greatest adventure a man ever lived… with a woman!”

1952 Adventure · Romance · War 1h 45m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

At the start of the First World War, in the middle of Africa’s nowhere, a gin soaked riverboat captain is persuaded by a strong-willed missionary to go down river and face-off a German warship.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The African Queen?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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A woman during the Second World War opens her heart to an evacuee after initially resolving to be rid of him.

Hawaii

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Abner Hale, a rigid and humorless New England missionary, marries the beautiful Jerusha Bromley and takes her to the exotic island kingdom of Hawaii, intent on converting the natives. But the clash between the two cultures is too great and instead of understanding there comes tragedy.

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Kensuke's Kingdom

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A young boy and his family set off on a sailing trip of a lifetime until a violent storm erupts, sweeping Michael and his dog overboard. After washing up on a remote island, terrified, they struggle to survive and adjust to life alone, One day, Michael discovers he is not alone when he is confronted by a mysterious Japanese man who has lived there secretly since World War II, angry that Michael has arrived. However, as dangerous invaders threaten their fragile island paradise, Michael and the old man, Kensuke, join forces to save their secret world.

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

War · 1958

All her life, Englishwoman Gladys Aylward knew that China was where she belonged. Unqualified to be sent as a missionary, Gladys works as a domestic to earn to send herself to a poor, remote village. There, she eventually lives a full and happy life: running the inn, acting as 'foot inspector', advising the local Mandarin, and even winning the heart of mixed-race Captain Lin Nan. Gladys discovers her real destiny when the country is invaded by Japan and the Chinese children need her to save their lives.

Out of Africa

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Captain Corelli's Mandolin

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

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Drama · 2018

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Huston

Written by

James Agee · John Huston

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart

Charlie Allnut

Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn

Rose Sayer

Robert Morley

Robert Morley

The Brother

Peter Bull

Peter Bull

Captain of Louisa

Theodore Bikel

Theodore Bikel

First Officer

Walter Gotell

Walter Gotell

Second Officer

Peter Swanwick

Peter Swanwick

First Officer of Shona

Court is in session

Put The African Queen on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.