The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is odd. Every year the Oscars seem to be more political than about who is the most talented. People like Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne and Alfred Hitchcock won only an Oscar apiece. Hitchcock received his for lifetime achievement, not best director. Groucho Marx is the same story. For some reason, these legends of the screen were only allowed to win one Oscar. Their work has lasted over 75 years in some cases, yet they were underappreciated by the Academy when they were alive. Maybe that is because they were too popular with the public and the Academy preferred to reward “artistic” performers.
No matter though, the Academy does some great work. For Humphrey Bogart though, like the others, it was hard to see your name at the top of box office lists year in and year out, yet never be able to hold an Oscar. He had been nominated before, for Casablanca (1942), but didn’t win. He gave his best performance in Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), yet didn’t even get nominated. So when he was nominated for The African Queen (1951), there was much doubt as to Bogie’s winning the award. The favorite to win was Marlon Brando for his performance in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).
As the Academy tends to do, there was an upset and the favored Brando would have to wait three more years before winning his first Academy Award. Bogie received the award for playing the drunken, yet lovable Charlie Allnut.
The story surrounding The African Queen is famous. It was recounted brilliantly by Bogie’s co-star, the tremendous actress Katherine Hepburn in “The Making of The African Queen – Or How I Went to Africa With Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind.”
Before arriving in Africa though, there were some things that needed to be changed in the screenplay that had appeared in C.S. Forester’s novel. Namely, the Allnut character had to become Canadian and not English. In the novel, Allnut was written to have a strong Cockney accent. Bogie was unable to do this, so the screenplay was rewritten so that he could speak “normally.” That’s how you win an Academy Award.
John Huston was famous for taking his cast and crew to the farthest ends of the Earth during location shoots. Traveling through Africa was a dream for him. He had a blast on the trip. While not shooting the picture, he was off shooting game. At nights, he and Bogie would take shots, much to the annoyance of Katherine Hepburn.
Bogie and Huston got the last laugh. Everyone on the location shoot ended up getting sick because of the mosquitoes and tainted water. Bogie and Huston only drank Scotch on the trip. The Scotch provided protection for the two whenever a mosquito bit them, Bogie joked.
The African Queen is a fairly interesting because of the interaction between Hepburn and Bogie. There really is no change in Bogie’s character from previous movies. He is the cynical, drunkard who is inspired by a woman who he falls in love with to change his ways and join the side of right. Hepburn plays the idealistic sister of a British missionary. The chemistry between the two is great.
On a rather tragic note, Bogie and Bacall had a death in the family while filming began. Bogie and Bacall left for London, where studio work was done for The African Queen. As the plane left, Stephen, their son, and his nanny stood waving at the plane. Unfortunately, the nanny had a stroke, collapsed, and died right there. It was the first time his parents had ever left him alone and his nanny died minutes after their plane left. Needless to say, that probably had a serious affect on Stephen. He has managed to be a fairly successful author, but has struggled to come to grips with his famous father. Perhaps this is a reason why.
The African Queen is a great movie because there is a small cast. Bogie and Hepburn control most of the screen time. Because we go on a thrilling journey through the heart of Africa, with such wonderful guides, we remember this movie. Maybe that is why the Academy remembered Bogie come Oscar time.
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