StudioCanal has announced the release of John Huston’s classic film, The African Queen, on 4K UHD for the first time. This Special Edition is scheduled for release on the 21st of October 2024 and will include a booklet featuring an exclusive essay by Helen O’Hara. The film will be part of the Vintage Classics Collection and also reissued on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Adapted from the novel by C.S. Forester, the film stars Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn in their only on-screen collaboration. The screenplay was written by James Agee
“Set in German East Africa in 1914, Humphrey Bogart stars as the slovenly gin-swilling Charlie Allnut, while Katharine Hepburn portrays Rose Sayer, the prim sister of a British missionary (Robert Morley). When invading Germans kill the missionary and destroy the village, Allnut offers to take Rose back to civilization. She can’t tolerate his drinking or bad manners, and he dislikes her imperious, judgmental attitude. However, their passionate dislike soon turns to love as they work together to survive on the treacherous waters and devise an ingenious plan to destroy a German gunboat.” StudioCanal Synopsis
Extras Material:
- NEW Audio commentary with script supervisor Angela Allen and Ian Christie
- NEW Sir John Woolf on the making of The African Queen
- Audio commentary by cinematographer Jack Cardiff
- Embracing Chaos: Making The African Queen, a comprehensive documentary (60 mins)
- Video interview with co-screenwriter Peter Viertel, produced by Eureka Entertainment
- Video interview with critic Kim Newman, produced by Eureka Entertainment
- Video interview with historian Neil Sinyard, produced by Eureka Entertainment
- 2010 NFT Q&A with Anjelica Huston and script supervisor Angela Allen ©BFI
- 1981 NFT/Guardian interview with John Huston ©BFI
- Lux Radio Theatre adaptation from 1952 with Humphrey Bogart and Greer Garson
- Behind-the-scenes stills gallery
- Original theatrical trailer
About the Restoration
For the 2010 4K restoration of The African Queen, Romulus Films—one of the film’s original production companies—provided access to the original three-strip negative. The film was scanned and digitized at a London facility, and the separate elements were then transferred to Los Angeles, where they were painstakingly recombined and inspected frame by frame to ensure every detail aligned. Dirt and scratches were removed to match the filmmakers’ original vision.
A screening of an MPAA archive print was arranged for the film’s original cinematographer, Academy Award winner Jack Cardiff, whose comments were recorded live. This archival print was later screened alongside the restored version to ensure all of Cardiff’s notes had been addressed, resulting in a vibrant, warm recreation of the film.
In 2024, a new UHD version was produced from the 2010 restoration.
Jamie’s Reaction
This is one of my favourite films of all time, and so I am beyond delighted to see it released on physical Media in 4k. Old Time Review previously published a review of the Eureka Blu-Ray of this film, and remember being really blown away by its clarity. This restoration, judging by the emotive trailer, looks certain not to disappoint.
Arguably, this is one of the best films of both of the lead performers. The chemistry is unmatched, and the film is just as riveting no matter how many times you see it.
