Hotter than Blazes! 

"Last week, Chris, you posted in your blog, Union Suit Fan, a union suit fan in his union suit,* appearing outside, in Hawaii!

In the movie, African Queen, Humphrey Bogart stripped to his long underwear before jumping off his boat to fix the outboard motor which had been damaged as he and Katharine Hepburn slipped first into rapids and then over a small waterfall.

As Katharine looked on, Bogie slipped out of his shirt and pants and then, in just his long johns, jumped overboard. I'm betting the temperature in Africa for him was hotter than the Union Suit Fan experienced there in Lana'i, Hawaii. 

A fan of Bogie and your blog, Union Suit Fan, for many years, Kenny of Kankakee, IL"

Union Suit Fans: after receiving this email from Kenny regarding the photograph posting of the Hawaiian tourist standing out doors in only his red union suit admiring the palm tree view, I remembered the part of the movie he referenced. Sure enough, when I went back and watched the film, African Queen, the boat of Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) headed right towards and into the rapids!

Charlie and his passenger, Methodist missonary, Rose Sayer (Katherine Hepburn) survived the rapids and made their way to calmer water. But the boat had taken on a lot of water and it's motor was damaged. After bailing out the water and determining there was no leakage to the vessel...

....Charlie decided there was only one thing to do. He would have to view the motor underwater. Having no other choice, he stripped to his long underwear and jumped into the water. To continue their journey, he would have to repair his boat's motor.

Long Underwear in the heart of Afica in 1914? Charlie probably wore union suits in winter climates, then changing into two piece long underwear or BVD's in late spring and summer, like most men and boys of his era. Back then, many men typically wore long underwear regardless of where in the world they traveled. Boxer shorts and briefs were non-existent.

So what is next for Rose and Charlie?

Stayed tuned as we find out what happens to the drenched, underwear clad hero and his passenger next week in more exciting scenes from this great 1951 classic.

Thanks to Horizon Pictures and United Artists, John Huston, director and all the actors and crew who brought this movie to the big and, later small, screens!

 

*Here's the photo of the Hawaiian tourist outside in his union suit that Kenny spoke of:

And he's not the only one who enjoys wearing a union suit in a warm climate. How about Dave in his long johns out surveying the scenery in Arizona, posted May 4, 2021: 

And then there's Torrie's boyfriend, Jeff, following nature's call in Flagstaff Arizona, posted in Union Suit Fan on May 21, 2018: 

Now just who are the somebodies out to catch the backsides of these guys in the heat wearing warm long red union suit underwear?!