'African Queen' finally on DVD, Blu-ray

"The African Queen's" long journey finally includes a stop on DVD and Blu-ray.

Paramount confirmed that the Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn starrer is set for release March 23. More than an hour of extra features are promised.

"The African Queen" release campaign includes four versions: a standard and collector's edition in both the DVD and Blu-ray formats.

The basic "African Queen" DVD goes for $20 while the "commemorative limited-edition" DVD weighs anchor at $35. On Blu-ray the prices are $27 and $44 respectively.

John Huston's 1951 adventure long has been listed as one of the "Holy Grail" titles for the DVD format. A Region 2 (European) DVD has been available for many years, but nothing for the States. The March 23 release means all movies on the AFI's 100 Greatest American Movies are now available on DVD.

All versions of the classic include the feature-length documentary "Embracing Chaos: Making the African Queen." DVD usual suspects Martin Scorsese, Richard Schickel sing the film's praises while Huston's son, Tony, provides some family insight. Home movie and other archival footage include materials from the collection of original cinematographer Jack Cardiff.

The cinematographer participated in the long restoration process before his death last April, by recording comments for the team while watching an MPAA print. "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," Paramount said.

Paramount Home Entertainment lists these extra features listed for the collector's editions (DVD, Blu-ray):

• A second disc with the "Lux Radio Theater" broadcast of "The African Queen."
• A reproduction of Hepburn's memoir "The Making of the African Queen or How I Went to Africa With Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind" (out of print but easily found on Amazon).
• Also, some postcards and a film frame reproduction.

Not being much of a Hepburn fan, I'm far from amped. Listening to Hepburn bust Bogart's balls for 105 minutes doesn't quite appeal. (Yes, I know the film is beloved.) But ... this seems as good a time as any to re-evaluate. For Bogart (among the obvious choices), I much prefer "The Big Sleep," "The Maltese Falcon" and of course "Casablanca." For Hepburn, it's "Bringing Up Baby" and "The Philadelphia Story" ... and not much else.