History of an announced shipwreck. In Hollywood, where all the major studios refused to follow John Huston in the project to adapt CS Forester’s novel, African Tailn, we doubt that filming in the Belgian Congo will be completed. But what lured the great director? Few believe in the pursuit of originality. They’re not wrong on this point, because the filmmaker, who was a great hunter, was determined above all to make the film footage rhyme with carnage. “ John wanted to kill an elephant. That was the main purpose of the movie. “, will explain co-screenwriter Peter Viertel in his book. White hunter, black heart, The movie Clint Eastwood will bring to the big screen in 1990. Filming was really chaotic. Not just because of the filmmaker’s obsession. Katharine Hepburn dazzles with the story of Rosie, this dry English missionary (she only drinks tea) who falls in love with a fierce Canadian sailor (who drinks gin every hour).
Together, these unlikely bandits decided to blow up a Reich warship to avenge Rosie’s brother, who was killed by German soldiers in September 1914. In the middle of the woods, Huston rejoices to see for the first time the icon of his class, Katharine Hepburn, pointing at a scruffy Bogie: “EEveryone burst into laughter when they saw them. I realized that my film had to be a comedy above all else. Isn’t the clash of opposites one of the main sources of the genre?
A SHOT IN HELL
Like the dog and the cat, Rosie and Charlie are in the tub. When Charlie crashes into the water (this wasn’t just a movie!) filled with crocodiles, miasma and leeches, he discovers the courage and grace of his partner, whom he sees as a spinster wreck. Comedy then becomes romantic. Two Hollywood stars are very successful in this regard. Filming in the sweltering heat or heavy rain was like hell. Carnivorous ants, mosquitoes, snakes, malaria… they all endured with admirable fortitude. Every week, a plane sent exhausted technicians back to their countries and brought back some dashing technicians! In 2007, Hepburn published her memoirs with a meaningful title: The African Queen, or How I went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and I almost lost my mind.
Lauren Bacall? The actress, who is married to Bogie, accompanied her and played canteen to keep her busy! One day, when the whole team gets dysentery, we become suspicious of the cooks. It is water that becomes contaminated after inspection. Bogart and Huston, who just drank whiskey, were doing great! “I’m protecting myself, the actor explained. As soon as a mosquito bites me, it gets drunk!” Anecdotes abound. One of the hunters who supplied meat to the kitchen would sometimes hand out human meat because it was not a game. Huston’s response: “I admit, I did not notice any special taste!” The movie will be a huge success and will present Bogart the only Oscar of his career. Shipwrecked they said?
The Epic of the African Queen: Sunday, December 18 at 21.00 at Arte
JULIAN BARCILON
Source: Programme Television
Joseph Fearn is an entertainment and television aficionado who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for what’s hot in the world of TV, Joseph keeps his readers informed about the latest trends and must-see shows.
