This is the great classic movie it is often claimed to be , being impossible to deny its entertainment and thought-provoking value . A witty screenplay by James Agee and John Huston himself from C.S. Forester's novel and glimmer color cinematography raise this interesting and amusing story . Not-to be-missed this Huston movie made on location in dangerous , risked environments and under testing conditions . In Africa during World War I, after Bible-thumping spinster's (Hepburn) missionary brother (Robert Morley) is dead by fevers , a hard-drinking , sympathetic , gin-swigging riverboat captain (Bogart) is persuaded by her to use his boat and undertake a risked trip down African wild rivers . Not satisfied with sanctuary, Rose proposes him blocking German advance by attacking and trying to sink an enemy warship. Their trying odyssey downriver , of course, gradually sees the two incompatible falling in love . Along the way , and their time alone on the African rivers turn aversion and mistrust into comradeship and love , a transition effectively counterpointed by the continuing intrigue of their daring assignment. Bogart the King is back with the 'Queen!' . The mightiest adventure ever filmed . Actually filmed in the savage splendor and dangers of the Belgian Congo . The greatest adventure a man ever lived with a woman . As Rose says the following words : Nature is what we are put in this world to rise above .
Richly characterized film , this is a throughly agreeable movie . Both protagonists , Bogart and Hepburn , spend most of their time battling each other and facing off aquatic obstacles . Classy war of sexes screenplay adapted from known novel by C.S. Forester makes marvellous use of enjoyable humor and natural as well as sparking dialogue . However , Forester novel ends in John Huston style , as protagonists fail their attempt to destroy the warship . The always detached Humphrey Bogart is top-notch as a cowardly riverboat captain who is persuaded by a stern lady to carry out a dangerous voyage offering her safe passage . And top-drawer Katharina Hepburn as a strait-laced missionary . They are accompanied by a good support cast , giving brief but charming performances , such as : Theodore Bikel , Walter Gotell , Peter Bull and special mention for Robert Morley . The shimmer photography in Technicolor by the great cameraman Jack Cardiff , the intelligent script , musical score by Allan Gray and gorgeous African exteriors help to counteract the basically implausible and contrived nature of the tale . Being shot on location in various African and European countries such as : Budongo Forest, Democratic Republic Of Congo , then called Congo Belgian , Lake Albert, Uganda Ruiki River, Democratic Republic Of Congo , Biondo , Kabalega Falls, Kabalega Falls National Park, Uganda and Isleworth Studios, London Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, England, UK Worton Hall Studios, Isleworth , UK and Los Angeles, California, USA
It contains an attractive script by John Agee , John Huston and Paul Viertel , Deborah Kerr's husband , he published in 1953 a novel titled : White hunter , Black hunter , describing the shooting incidents and many years later adapted by Clint Eastwood with Eastwood himself as Huston and Jeff Fahey . Being well produced by Horizon Pictures a production company created by Huston and Sam Spiegel , and the British Romulus Film . Forester novel copyright was bought by Warner Bros that to be thought to hire as protagonists : Charles Laughton-Elsa Lancaster , and later on , the couple : David Niven-Bette Davis , and subsequently : Paul Henreid-Ida Lupino . Finally , the roles went to Bogart-Hepburn . The film was nominated to screenplay and Hepburn was also nominated for an Academy Award for her splendid portrayal of the stiff-upper-lip and rasp-tongued spinster who gradually developes mellower feelings forward her drunk , rugged companion . Bogart , at last ,won the Academy Award he deserved for his stunning portrayal of the alcohol-soaked riverboat captain
