The African Queen

(Paramount Home Entertainment, 3.23.2010)

One of the most beloved films in the history of Hollywood, The African Queen is finally making its long overdue debut on DVD. For years, fans have been begging for a release of this scrappy comic adventure featuring what may be the finest performances of Humpherey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn's storied careers. It's also one of John Huston's most charmingly laid back, yet utterly enthralling pictures. A cursory glance at the transfer on this disc -- I'll take a closer look when I get my hands on the Blu-ray -- suggests that it was worth the wait. Paramount has not only cleaned-up the film, they've also dared to remove distracting distortion from the original rear projection shots, giving the film a visual clarity it never quite achieved, but always desperately wanted.

The only extra on the disc -- an hour-long documentary about the making of the film -- also proves to be a huge treat. This incredibly thorough, fast-paced doc is comprised of interviews with admiring filmmakers (Martin Scorsese, Nicholas Meyer), film historians (the ubiquitous Rudy Belmer and Richard Schickel), members of the filmmakers' families, some surviving crew members and even the late greats involved with the production (the Hepburn and Huston interviews can be found in their entirety on Shout! Factory's Hollywood Greats compilation of Dick Cavett interviews).

The story of making this classic turns out to be just as colorful and surprising as the film itself. All the classic stories are here, complete with new insights and a few refutations. From the unorthodox writing process of John Huston and celebrated film critic James Agee (tennis figured prominently in their daily routine) to notorious tales of dysentery and the surprising health benefits of alcoholism -- in spite of contaminated water, Huston and Bogart remained unscathed, as their drink of choice was whiskey -- this documentary leaves no major stone unturned.

The tale of John Huston's efforts to hunt an elephant also proves fruitful, revealing all kinds of unexpected details about his relationship with Hepburn. She had great respect for Huston's intellect, but she could not understand why such a refined gentleman would want to take the life of a beautiful, exotic creature. Far from crude or primitive, Huston invited her along to engage in what he felt would be a profound spiritual experience. He never did kill an elephant, but Hepburn was almost trampled by one during this memorable field trip.

Much of this tale was recounted in Peter Viertel's fictionalized novel White Hunter, Black Heart, which later became one of Clint Eastwood's most intriguingly mellow, low key films as director. Once The African Queen hits stores, I highly recommend a double or even triple bill (if you choose to include this terrific documentary). By all accounts, the making of The African Queen was an adventure worthy of the one depicted onscreen and all three of these films capture the explorer spirit and its transcendent appeal. -- Jonathan Doyle