Inici de la Segona Guerra Mundial, un pastor anglicà i la seva germana estan com a misioners el cor d'Àfrica, els alemanys prenen possessió de la colònia i aquella mateixa nit el seu germà malalt expira, ella sola es veu obligada a fugir a bord de la Reina d'Àfrica, vell vaixell de vapor conduit pel solitari. Peripècies pel riu i l'amor que neix entre aquest personatges de vides tan diverses. ( )

To set the stage: Africa, World War I. Rose is high spirited, a spunky woman despite being a strait-laced and virginal missionary's sister. She is out for revenge for the death of her brother; she wants to torpedo the Germans to strike a blow for England. Enter gin-swilling mechanic Charlie Allnut and his river boat, the African Queen. Rose is only too eager to learn all about the African Queen to determine its full usefulness to exact her revenge - torpedoing the German police boat, the Konigin Luise. Rose's patriotism and lust for adventure adds up to a woman Allnut has never seen the likes of before. She somehow convinces him to take on her quest and it is her feisty nature that gets her and Allnut through deadly rapids, thick mangroves, choking weeds, malaria infested swarms of mosquitoes and stifling heat down the Bora delta.
Typical and predictable, a relationship blooms between Rose and Charlie, but how could it not when confined on a river boat for days on end? As they say, misery loves company. Despite seeing the relationship a mile away Forester reissued his story so that he had the opportunity to present the end of the story as he originally intended. It's not what you expect. ( )