The African Queen Blu-ray Announced for March

Posted January 11, 2010 09:56 AM by Juan Calonge

Paranount Home Entertainment has announced that it will release 'The African Queen' on Blu-ray on March 23. 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 Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in a role that won him his only Academy Award.

A six-year journey filled with challenges nearly as difficult as those faced by Rose and Charlie, the restoration process began at the source: Romulus Films —one of the film's original production companies— provided access to the original three-strip negative at a London facility where the film was carefully scanned and digitized. The separate elements were then transferred to Los Angeles and painstakingly recombined and inspected frame by frame to ensure that every detail aligned and that any dirt and scratches were removed.

To ensure that the restored picture matched the filmmakers' original vision, Paramount arranged a screening of an MPAA archive print for the film's original cinematographer, Academy Award winner Jack Cardiff, whose comments were recorded live during the screening. That same archival print was later screened alongside the newly restored version so that the restoration team could ensure that all of Cardiff's notes had been addressed. The result is a vibrant, warm picture that reverentially recreates the film as it was originally meant to be seen.

'The African Queen' will be available as a single disc Blu-ray and also in a Commemorative Limited Edition Blu-ray box set.

Special features are as follows:

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.

The Commemorative, Limited-Edition Blu-ray box set includes the above along with:

An audio disc with a recording of the Lux Radio Theater presents The African Queen radio broadcast
A Senitype® film frame collectible reproduction
Collectible postcards featuring reproductions of images related to the film
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

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News comments (38 comments)

Galley

Jan 11, 2010

This release is significant, as it was the only film in the AFI Top 100 never released on DVD.

yyyguy2008

Jan 11, 2010

This is great news. African Queen has always been one of my favourite movies, so I'm glad to see it's geeting the royal treatment it deserves.

eChopper

Jan 11, 2010

wow!!

rmainhammer

Jan 11, 2010

Saw this on VHS a few years ago. I can't wait to see what Paramount does with the transfer. It should be like watching a totally different movie!

HanaBi

Jan 11, 2010

Day 1 purchase for me. I may pick up the box set, but definitely appreciate the choice between the single disc and LE.

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Blu Titan

Jan 11, 2010

Now we are talking!!!!!!

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Shanester

Jan 11, 2010

More classics on BR. Nice!! Keep 'em coming!!

Dave_6

Jan 11, 2010

Nice to hear! Now to decide if I want the single-disc or the LE. Since I got the GWTW set, I kind of like these collector's sets!

JediFonger

Jan 11, 2010

they only had DP watch it once? what is this 1990? hahaha. i guess they had to pay him, lots of biz transactions, etc. but still.

do you rEALLY trust paramount for catalogs? look how many they messed up already.

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GC Riot

Jan 11, 2010

No Sapphire Edition? Must say I'm a little surprised.

digitalbabe

Jan 11, 2010

Good news! Not trying to be a stickler, but FYI the studio is mispelled in the first sentence.

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fdm

Jan 11, 2010

Not one of my all time favorites or anything, but look forward to seeing this come out and picking it up. About time it got a proper U.S. release. Tend to avoid boxes, see what the beast looks like. And costs.

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SquidPuppet

Jan 11, 2010

Very nice to see two versions available. A collectors box for those who want it, and a bare bones version for those who dont.

P@t_Mtl

Jan 11, 2010

This will be added to my collection, a classic movie that is without a doubt in my top five best movies of all time

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repete66211

Jan 11, 2010

There is no downside to classics being released on Blu-ray.

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Atreyu

Jan 11, 2010

Glad to see they are taking their time with this classic film. Hopefully they will step up to the plate and follow what was done with Wizard Of Oz and Gone With The Wind.

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TJS_Blu

Jan 11, 2010

March 23rd line-up:

African Queen, The
Bigger Than Life
Sanjuro
Toy Story
Toy Story 2
Yojimbo

I need a 2nd job

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Robert Siegel

Jan 11, 2010

This is really great news. Now let's hope that Paramount does something with My Fair Lady now that they have the rights, they released an anniversary DVD in 2009 and no Blu-ray. Word is Ten Commandments is going to be a reality. It's nice to see some classics announced.

JediFonger

Jan 11, 2010

there's a downside when movies like it's a wonderful life is botched.

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bboisvert

Jan 11, 2010

"Botched"? ¿Qué?

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nathanp

Jan 11, 2010

This will take one of the big titles off of my "never seen but have to see" list.

monkyman

Jan 11, 2010

Way to go Mr. Allnutt!! I love this movie

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Penthouse

Jan 11, 2010

Although I am not a fan of this movie, and in particular these two actors, I am glad they are releasing more classics on Blu-ray. This movie has been release overseas on DVD. As a matter of fact, i went into an FYE in Arlington, VA, and they had two copies of an Asian import that was brand new!

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DarkDune

Jan 11, 2010

The LAST time I saw this was from my local Library on VHS!!!!

Blu would be SO AWESOME!

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rkolinski

Jan 11, 2010

Own the LD so this will definitely be an improvement (fingers crossed) and a day 1 purchase
for me. Still, this isn't being released in 3D; I guess I'll just have to wait on getting that new TV (NOT)!
.

Belloche

Jan 11, 2010

This definitely tops my early 2010 wishlist. Can't wait. I've never owned it but I always make it a point to watch it when it comes on TV.

jsummers157@

Jan 11, 2010

Great news, but wasn't this supposed to come out at the end of February or was the unofficial?

mkelley

Jan 11, 2010

For a whole lot of kids (most of you :>) this will be an eye-opener -- a truly terrific movie worthy of being in AFI's top 100. While the "special effects" may seem a little silly at times (in particular the model shot of the Queen going down the rapids) the story set the pattern for a ton of movies to come and no one has done it better.

And, yes, we certainly need more classics like "Fair Lady" to keep coming -- will make the dearth of really good films released each year more acceptable (I can't think of more than two films all last year that were worth owning).

Jimmy W

Jan 11, 2010

YES! FINALLY! Can't wait -- c'mon 3/23!

dmarvin

Jan 11, 2010

This is definitely in my top 5 most-wanted pre-60s films. Now if we could get The Bridge On the River Kwai, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant, I'd be in heaven.

Elvis

Jan 11, 2010

wow finally.....never even made it to DVD! Not a moment too soon! But at least it finally is.

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ifireun

Jan 11, 2010

I enjoy any Bogey film, and his portrayal of the rough and tumble Canadian boat captain, "Charlie Allnut", is one of the most memorable in movie history. Even better, his chemistry with Kate Hepburn is fantastic. Can't wait!!!

ShellOilJunior

Jan 11, 2010

Only time I've seen this was at the library. It was on laser disc and the librarian had to wheel out television for me to watch it (because of sound concerns i had to put on gigantic headphones).

Can't wait for the blu-ray!

And Yes 3/23 will be a great day for blu-ray owners!

jk1138

Jan 11, 2010

JediFonger » 8 hours ago
"there's a downside when movies like it's a wonderful life is botched."

What???

tvine2000

Jan 11, 2010

Wow! i like the idea of transfers from a 4k source down rez to 1080p,should look very good.

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Rhylliam

Jan 12, 2010

Excellent! Never got to see this film & is a definite blind buy.

johntravel

Jan 12, 2010

ah...... The blue ray .....

anthonyjhc

Jan 13, 2010

My existing DVD, issued about four or five years ago, has great picture quality apart from one one-minute scene which shows a colour-shift to vivid green ... but this definitely deserves Blu ray treatment. I guess I'll go for the commemorative edition to get Katharine Hepburn's memoirs included -- it sells for about $40 by itself on Amazon so it's a good inclusion.....
Anthony