Trivia and Fun Facts for THE AFRICAN QUEEN

Real leeches were used on Bogart for the scene where gets covered in them while towing the boat in chest-high water.

Producer S.P. Eagle is really Sam Spiegel - that was his alias.

The ants were so severe in the sleeping quarters that the legs of the beds had to be placed in pools of kerosene.

Future Academy Award-winning actress Anjelica Huston was born to John Huston's wife Ricki during the making of The African Queen.

According to the web site "The Greatest Films" (http://www.filmsite.org/afri.html) "There were three other endings that were considered, but dropped:
-the rescue of Charlie and Rose by a British warship after their battle against the Louisa
-Rose proposes marriage before the first available British consul
-Charlie remembers a wife left behind over 20 years ago in England"

Buzz started early that Bogart would win a much overdue Academy Award for his performance in The African Queen, which Bogie shrugged off. He publicly expressed his distaste for actors competing against each other, but deep down, according to Lauren Bacall, he did want to win.

When the Academy Awards ceremony was held, Bogart was certain that Marlon Brando would win for his role in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). Bogart, however, was a sentimental favorite on top of being a fine actor. At first it looked like Streetcar would win everything: Vivien Leigh had already beaten Katharine Hepburn, and Karl Malden had taken the award as Best Supporting Actor. Then Greer Garson announced Bogart as Best Actor. "A scream went up in the audience," said Lauren Bacall, who was then four months pregnant with their second child. "I leaped into the air-thought I'd have the baby then and there." Bogart was touched, and made a gracious acceptance speech for this career milestone.

As a present to Humphrey Bogart on Oscar® Night, Katharine Hepburn and Lauren Bacall had a model replica made of The African Queen with the inscription: "Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put in this world to rise above." It was one of Hepburn's lines in the film.

Humphrey Bogart's third wife, Mayo Methot, died during the filming of The African Queen. When he heard the news, Bogart said, "Too bad. Such a waste."

The African Queen was originally thought of as a vehicle for Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester at RKO.

Famous Quotes from THE AFRICAN QUEEN

"Well I ain't sorry for you no more, ya crazy, psalm-singing, skinny old maid!" – Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) to Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn).

"How do you know? You never tried it."

"Well, yeah, but I never tried shooting myself in the head neither." – Rose and Charlie.

"God has not forsaken this place, Mr. Allnut, as my brother's presence here bears witness." – Rose to Charlie.

"I never dreamed that any mere physical experience could be so stimulating!" – Rose to Charlie.

"Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put in this world to rise above." – Rose to Charlie.

"By the authority vested in me by Kaiser William II, I pronounce you man and wife. Proceed with the execution." – Captain of the Louisa (Peter Bull) while presiding over Charlie and Rose's wedding.

"What an absurd idea! What an absurd idea! Lady, I may be a born fool, but you got ten absurd ideas to my one, and don't you forget it!" – Charlie to Rose.

"One thing in the world I hate: leeches. Filthy little devils." – Charlie Allnut.

"Dear Lord, we've come to the end of our journey, and in a little while we'll stand before you. I pray for you to be merciful. Judge us not for our weaknesses, but for our love and open the doors of heaven for Charlie and me." – Rose, praying.

Compiled by Andrea Passafiume