1951 had a whole host of classic musicals that I still love to this day: An American In Paris, Show Boat, and Royal Wedding among many romances and the requisite Disney cartoon (Alice In Wonderland). For me the standout was The African Queen. At age seven I must still have been very impressionable as I can still shiver over thos damn leeches. The acting level in what is basically a two handed play between Hepburn and Bogart is of a quality rarely seen in even the almost 70 years since.
After religious spinster’s (Katharine Hepburn) missionary brother is killed in WWI Africa, dissolute steamer captain (Humphrey Bogart) offers her safe passage. She’s not satisfied so she persuades him to destroy a German gunboat. The two spend most of their time fighting with each other rather than the Germans. Time alone on the river leads to love.
If by some miracle you have never been over the rapids with Rose and Charlie, book passage on the Queen.
Still I can’t leave with year without paying tribute to one of the greatest ballets ever put on film. An American In Paris may seem dated these days. The dancing is not. Gene Kelly at his best with Leslie Caron as a beautiful partner. The game is to try to name all the famous painters represented.
You will need to follow the links to You Tube for the next six parts of this amazing choreography.
