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CS Forester - The African Queen

To boost the First World War effort, Rose convinces cowardly Charlie to lend his rickety steam-powered boat. With Samantha Bond.

1915: Rose Sayer’s work as a missionary comes to an abrupt end when the village she and her brother, Reverend Samuel Sayer, live in is invaded by the German army.

Samuel dies of fever and Rose blames the ungodly Germans for having ground him down and frightened off the entire village.

Patriotically, but naively, Rose conceives of blowing up a German warship to help the war effort. Cowardly Cockney Charlie Allnut reluctantly agrees to use his rickety steam-powered boat, The African Queen for her cause.

If they manage to survive enemy attacks, rapids, malaria and mechanical mishaps - will they be able to survive each other?

CS Forester’s classic novel, first published in 1935.

Starring Samantha Bond and Toby Jones.

Paul Mendelson’s dramatisation follows the plot of the original novel – not the altered version of the Hollywood film.

Rose .... Samantha Bond
Charlie .... Toby Jones
Samuel Sayer .... Stephen Critchlow
German Sailor .... Mark Edel-Hunt
German Sea Captain .... David Acton

Music composed and played by Gary C Newman.

Director: David Ian Neville

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2015.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 28 Aug 202405:00

Credits

RoleContributor
RoseSamantha Bond
CharlieToby Jones
Samuel SayerStephen Critchlow
German SailorMark Edel-Hunt
German Sea CaptainDavid Acton
DirectorDavid Neville
ProducerDavid Neville
AuthorCS Forester
AdaptorPaul Mendelson

Broadcasts

  • Sat 21 Feb 201514:30
  • Sat 12 Nov 201614:30
  • Sun 24 Mar 201916:00
  • Mon 25 Mar 201904:00
  • Tue 27 Aug 202415:00
  • Tue 27 Aug 202421:00
  • Wed 28 Aug 202405:00

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