THE AFRICAN QUEEN

THE AFRICAN QUEEN - 1951

RATED - NR but probably G

RATINGS - 35 Amazon (3.5/5), 56,170 Netflix (4.2/5), 25,786 IMDB (8.1/10).

STARRING - Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, Bert Morley, directed by John Huston.

AWARDS - 1952 Academy Award for BEST ACTOR (Bogart) plus 3 nominations including BEST ACTRESS (Hepburn). AFI TOP 100 Movies & AFI TOP 100 Passions. 1952 BAFTA BEST FILM nominee & BEST ACTOR nominee.

STORY - The one word that best describes this film is CLASSIC. Put Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn on the same screen, add the directing of John Huston, and it's almost inevitably a classic. The film takes place in 1914 during WWI in German Central Africa. The prim and proper Rose (Hepburn) and her brother, the Rev. Samuel Sayer, are Methodist missionaries from England who have been there for 10 years. Charles (Bogart) is the hard drinking steamboat operator who delivers the mail up and down the river and keeps the natives supplied with cigars. The Germans attack and destroy the village where they live and Rose's brother is killed in the attack. Charles happen upon the village right after and helps Rose bury Samuel. Rose convinces Charles that they should retaliate against the Germans by sinking a German U-Boat Charles knows is patrolling the lake at the end of the river. To get there they must navigate a dangerous and treacherous river guarded by a German fort as well as many natural hazards. There couldn't be two more opposite personalities as they make their way toward the lake in the 30 year old flat-bottomed African Queen. A true classic. It's amazing that there still is not an American version of the DVD. You can buy import version thru Amazon. I watched that version and it shows fine although it's a little annoying that you can't turn the English subtitles off and there are mistakes in the translation. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/02/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER - 1967

RATING - NR but probably PG for language and adult themes.

RATED - 118 Amazon (4.5/5), 7,545 IMBD (7.7/10), 386,582 Netflix (3.9/5), Roger Ebert (4/4)

STARRING - Sidney Poitier, Katherine Houghton, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn.

THEME - Racial prejudice.

AWARDS - 2 Academy Awards (Best Actress & Original Screenplay) plus 6 Academy Award nominations, AFI Top 100 Passions, AFI Top 100 Movies, 1969 BAFTA Best Actress & Actor (Hepburn & Tracy).

STORY - The film begins with Joey Drayton (Houghton) and Dr. John Prentice (Poitier) arriving at San Francisco Int'l Airport and we soon learn that after meeting 10 days ago in Hawaii and falling head over heels in love they are going to inform Joey's parents (Hepburn & Tracy) of their plans to be married and ask for their blessing. The problem, of course, is that John is African-American. A perfect son-in-law in every possible way, Joey is absolutely positive her wealthy, liberal (progressive) parents will wholeheartedly endorse their 'mixed' marriage. Wrong!! Being progressive was fine as long as it was someone else's life that was affected. Can the Draytons reconcile their values and the values they raised Joey to live by and the real-life situation at hand? To complicate matters, John is leaving the country that evening and has told them privately, he will cancel the marriage plans if they do not unreservedly support their marriage before he leaves. Many, if not most, of you are familiar with the story. It was shocking at the time. No black man had ever kissed a white woman on the 'big screen'. There were 16 states with laws on the books that made interracial marriages illegal. Stanly Kramer was indeed making a social statement with this movie. As a Jewish man, he knew prejudice first hand. As a result of this movie the laws were changed in all 16 states. Do movies influence culture?? Remember GIDEON'S TRUMPET. Watch this movie for what it was-a statement about racial prejudice but also ask yourself where are the injustices today that need to be fixed? How can we become part of the solution? A great movie then and still today. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 2/17/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, ROGER EBERT

ADAM'S RIB

ADAM'S RIB - 1949

RATED - NR but probably G

RATINGS - 44 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,602 IMBD (7.6/10), 97,549 Netflix (4.0/5)

STARRING - Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy

AWARDS - 1 Academy Award nomination, AFI Top 100 Laughs.

THEMES - Male/Female roles, equality, justice.

STORY - The story begins with Doris Attinger (Judy Holliday) waiting outside her husband's (Warren Attinger - Tom Ewell) office to follow him when he leaves to what she believes will be a romantic tryst. We get an idea of her motive when she drops her purse and a small revolver spills out. Her hunch is right, and after reading the directions how to use the weapon, she closes her eyes and starts shooting, wounding but not killing, her husband. The story shifts to a stylish apartment building where a servant is bringing breakfast to the bedroom of Adam (Tracy) and Amanda (Hepburn) Bonner. They scan the lead stories as they eat and prepare for work, noting the attempted murder story. Adam arrives at his office (Assistant District Attorney) and discovers he has been assigned to the case which he assumes will be a 'slam dunk'. He calls to tell Amanda, an attorney in private practice, the news and rub it in how he will put this one away quickly. Amanda hangs up on him, determined to defend this woman, believing women are treated differently than men and that this woman was justified in her actions. The movie shifts to the courtroom where the action and the fun begins. Each night the trial carries over into their personal life. A little dated now, it was somewhat shocking in 1949 that a woman could, heaven forbid, compete in the 'men's domain'. Where are there inequities today that need to be corrected? The chemistry between Tracy & Hepburn is at its best and makes for a very funny, romantic comedy that deserves its place in AFI' Top 100 Laughs. Enjoy! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 01/12/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD, TRAILER