The African Queen

Rev. Samuel Sayer and his sister Rose arrive in a remote African village as Christian missionaries. The village is quaint, with grass huts and a wooden church, situated in a German African colony during WWI.

The tranquility of the village is shattered when the German forces attack, burning the huts and capturing the men. The brutal onslaught leaves the village in ruins, with deep trauma inflicted on the remaining villagers.

Overwhelmed by the devastation and grief caused by the attack, Rev. Sayer takes his own life. Rose is left alone to confront the horrors surrounding her, plunging into despair over her brother's death.

In her moment of despair, Rose encounters Charlie Allnut, a scruffy boat captain, who has come to deliver supplies. He helps her bury her brother and takes her to his boat, the African Queen, for safety from the Germans.

Onboard the African Queen, Rose proposes a daring plan to attack the Louisa, a German gunship. Initially dismissive, Charlie eventually agrees to the plan as they realize it's their only chance to survive.

While navigating the Ulanga River, Rose and Charlie's bickering reaches new heights as they frustrate each other. After Rose disrupts Charlie's drinking by dumping his alcohol, they endure days of silence and resentment.

The couple faces danger while navigating treacherous rapids that make Rose feel exhilarated. They share a moment of intimacy, realizing their feelings for one another amidst the thrill of survival.

The African Queen breaks down, forcing them to work together to repair it. Through shared experiences, their feelings deepen, and they begin to appreciate each other’s strengths while overcoming various obstacles.

The boat becomes stuck in muck, and Rose and Charlie are faced with despair as they hold each other waiting for death. Their hopes wane until the rain rises the river, freeing the African Queen.

After escaping the swamp, they finally see the Louisa patrol for the first time. With newfound hope, they prepare to execute their plan to sink the German gunship.

They attach homemade torpedoes to the African Queen, devising a plan for a head-on collision with the Louisa. As they wait for the patrol boat to return, tensions rise with the looming confrontation.

As they charge toward the Louisa, a storm unleashes chaos, capsizing the African Queen. Rose and Charlie are thrown into the turbulent waters, separated and fearing for each other's safety.

Charlie is subsequently captured by the Germans and finds himself aboard the Louisa, where he faces interrogation. Believing Rose has drowned, he resigns himself to despair over his impending fate.

Rose is rescued and confronts the captain of the Louisa, boldly recounting their journey and the plan to sink the vessel. Her bravado shocks the Germans, but they remain undeterred in their intent to execute them.

Just as the captain marries Charlie and Rose at their request, the Louisa unexpectedly explodes due to the torpedoes they had crafted. The couple escapes the wreckage, clinging to a piece of the African Queen’s debris while celebrating their love.