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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
directed
by John Huston
U.S. 1951
In his only Oscar-winning performance, Bogart stars as Charlie Allnut, a reprobate who uses his little battered steamer, The African Queen, to run supplies to small villages in East Africa at the onset of WWI. At one stop he meets Rose (Katharine Hepburn), the devoted spinster sister of Rev. Samuel Sayer (Robert Morley). When Charlie returns to the village later, he finds that German troops have invaded and Sayer is dead, and he offers to take the distraught Rose back to civilization. Thus begins a perilous and unforgettable journey as Charlie and Rose decide to do their part in the war effort against the Germans. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: December 23rd, 1951 - USA
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Carlton (UK) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Manga (Spain) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Paramount - Region FREE -
Blu-rayBig thanks to Ole of DVD-Basen for the Manga Films Screen Caps!
(Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. - Manga - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE vs. Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT)
Box Covers |
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Being Re-released April 24th, 2017: Coming to Blu-ray from Ther Masters of Cinema, in the UK, in November 2019: Released on 4K UHD by Studiocanal in the UK in October 2024: |
Distribution |
Carlton (UK) Region 2 - PAL |
Manga
Films (Spain) Region 2 - PAL |
Paramount Studios Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Also available in DVD, Commemorative DVD Boxset and Commemorative Blu-ray Boxset |
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NOTE: The Commemorative box sets (both DVD and Blu-ray) include an audio disc with a recording of the Lux Radio Theater broadcast of The African Queen, a reproduction of Katharine Hepburn’s out-of-print memoir "The Making of The African Queen or How I Went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind", a Senitype film frame collectible reproduction and postcards featuring reproductions of images related to the film. | |||
Runtime | 1:40:18 (4% PAL Speedup) | 1:40:15 (4% PAL Speedup) | 1:45:14.975 |
Video |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
Disc Size: 46,643,782,133 bytes Feature Size: 32,905,181,184 bytes Average Bitrate: 38.80 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate:
Carlton
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Bitrate:
Manga |
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Bitrate:
Blu-ray |
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono) |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono), DUB: Spanish and Catalan (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono). |
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224
kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio French 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -4dB |
Subtitles | English and none | Spanish (Not removable with English audio). | English (SDH), English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and none |
Features | Release
Information: Studio: Carlton Aspect Ratio: Chapters
15 |
Release
Information: Studio: Manga Films
Aspect
Ratio: Chapters 12 |
Release
Information: Studio: Paramount
Disc Size: 46,643,782,133 bytes Feature Size: 32,905,181,184 bytes Average Bitrate: 38.80 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC VideoEdition Details: • Embracing Chaos: Making The African Queen—This comprehensive documentary takes a look back at the production with commentary about the cast, the challenges of the filming locations and how the spectacular cinematography impacted the industry overall. Includes on-camera interviews with notable Hollywood icons, critics and crew members from the film including Martin Scorsese, Tony Huston, Richard Schickel and more, plus never-before-seen archival images and home movie footage provided by the estate of cinematographer Jack Cardiff. (59:23 in HD!) Blu-ray Release Date: March 23rd, 2010 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 1 8 |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION- Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray March 2010: Firstly, let's look at the Press Release:
"Filled with
adventure, drama, humor and romance, the epic and enduring cinematic
classic THE AFRICAN QUEEN will finally make its way home when it debuts
on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time ever on March 23, 2010 from
Paramount Home Entertainment. Meticulously restored using
state-of-the-art 4K digital technology, THE AFRICAN QUEEN will now be
available for a new generation to appreciate and for long-time fans to
see again, as if for the first time. Legendary director John Huston’s
treasured romantic adventure stars the incomparable Humphrey Bogart as
hard-drinking boat captain Charlie Allnut—a role that won him his only
Academy Award® (Best Actor, 1951)—and renowned actress Katharine Hepburn
as missionary Rose Sayer in a tale of two disparate people thrown
together by fate and drawn together by love. Bogie has already reached 1080P with Casablanca but I believe it may be a first, in the new format, for Kate Hepburn. This title was head-scratchingly absent from region 1 on DVD and considered once of the most sought-after films in the digital format for many North American cinema fans - even causing many to purchase a region-free DVD player. Well, it's here and restored to the back-teeth making it's debut in the glory of Blu-ray. It's been a long wait for some... On an initial cursory peek - the image looks to have lived up to expectations. Colors, especially greens, are brilliant - detail takes a significant leap forward from the older PAL DVDs. Grain is limited and I'd like to live with the disc for a week before making any definitive statements. I have a few suspicions that I'll need to investigate but the viewing on my 60" plasma was, at times, breathtaking. This is, obviously, the best I have ever seen The African Queen. In the first run I was quite impressed. I REALLY enjoyed the film as I never have before. Audio improves - but not as demonstratively as the video with no lossless rendering. It seems strange as it did with It's a Wonderful Life - but while a shade tinny at times - it was relatively cleaner, and more consistent, than the DVDs. There are also optional subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide. I don't know why I was expecting the Cardiff commentary found on the Carlton UK DVD - the press release kind of hinted at it (or I didn't read closely enough), but supplements seem lean in this package as all we do get is Embracing Chaos: Making The African Queen. It's a comprehensive hour-long documentary in HD that takes a look back at the production with commentary about the cast, the challenges of the filming locations and how the spectacular cinematography impacted the industry overall. Includes on-camera interviews with notable Hollywood icons, critics and crew members from the film including Martin Scorsese, Tony Huston, Richard Schickel and more, plus never-before-seen archival images and home movie footage provided by the estate of cinematographer Jack Cardiff. It's very informative with some beautiful still shots - some behind the scenes - and interview tidbits. The "Commemorative" editions offer more (an audio disc with a recording of the Lux Radio Theater broadcast of The African Queen, a reproduction of Katharine Hepburn’s out-of-print memoir "The Making of The African Queen or How I Went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind", a Senitype film frame collectible reproduction and postcards featuring reproductions of images related to the film) - but it's a personal choice whether it is worth the higher price at about $11.50 extra for the Blu-ray 'commemorative'). NOTE: the Blu-ray commemorative is, at present, only 1 lonely dollar more than the similar DVD package. This is a title where I feel I can't do much to influence sales unless I can state something really wrong - and, at this stage, I can't. Like many, I love the film and was owning this Blu-ray come hell-or-high-water. The viewing stirred me and I'm sure it will for most who watch The African Queen in this higher resolution. ***
ON THE DVDs: The
Manga DVD is washed out, hazy, saturated, cropped and the colors are
off. I don't think you need any other reason to buy the Carlton, but
if you do, it has a commentary by Jack Cardiff. The Carlton is the
definitive DVD for this film right now. The Manga's Spanish subs are
forced when the audio is English. Stay away from the Manga!
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DVD Menus
(Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs.
- Manga - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
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Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Screen Captures
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1) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Manga - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Manga - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Manga - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Manga - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Manga - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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More Blu-ray captures
Box Covers |
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Being Re-released April 24th, 2017: Coming to Blu-ray from Ther Masters of Cinema, in the UK, in November 2019: Released on 4K UHD by Studiocanal in the UK in October 2024: |
Distribution |
Carlton (UK) Region 2 - PAL |
Manga
Films (Spain) Region 2 - PAL |
Paramount Studios Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Report Card:
Image: |
Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Blu-ray |
Extras: | Blu-ray |
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