Stowaway (1936)

What makes it different from others?

Purely Joyful Movie!

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Stowaway (1936): Dir: William A. Seiter / Cast: Shirley Temple, Robert Young, Alice Faye, Helen Westley, Allan Lane: Title not only addresses innocent Shirley Temple accidentally ending upon aboard a cruise ship. It also symbolizes her impact within the hearts of two individuals who only meet with her in the middle ground. Temple is an orphan in China who is wise beyond her years. Robert Young is the young bachelor whom she encounters and eventually accompanies. He is wealthy but good natured and certainly has a tolerance for children. Alice Faye plays the female lead who will predictably end up with young. Problem is that she is engaged to an arrogant guy who is controlled by his mother. Luckily Temple's spirit invades Faye's attention leaving the only link to connect is her to Young. Allan Lane plays Faye's fiancé who has been away until his mother contacts him alerting him to her association with Young. Helen Westley plays Lane's meddling mother who feels threatened with regards to Temple's influence over Faye's affections. Directed by William A. Seiter with a production that works despite a few corny musical numbers that fail to inspire. The one number that does work is Temple's song about smiling and her total confidence as she controls the stage. Not bad for a little tyke. Theme regards the reality of children needing two parents and how they can stowaway love into a promising future. Score: 8 / 10

This is still Shirley Temple's film, but the romance between Alice Faye and Robert Young gets lots of time in this film...making it a bit more balanced and not quite as child-oriented as some of Shirley's films.Shirley is...well...Shirley, with her musical highlight being "Goodnight, My Love", with the song being reprised by Alice Faye.Faye is very good here, and Robert Young is excellent. You really do hope they get married! The supporting cast does their jobs -- Helen Westley is suitably unbearable as the potential mother-in-law. Eugene Palette doesn't get much screen time, but his barrel-voice is always welcome. Arthur Treacher also doesn't get much film time, and does better in other Temple films.This is one of the better Temple films, but far from the best. But the balance with a more adult story line makes it quite enjoyable.

As I watched this film, I was shocked how the amazingly talented Shirley Temple APPEARED to be speaking Chinese. I assumed she was actually speaking nonsense. I was thrilled, however, by Moondog-8's review as they said that she really WAS speaking reasonably good Mandarin Chinese!! What a talented kid!! Ching-Ching is the orphaned child of missionaries in China. She mostly wanders the street like a ray of sunshine. She happens upon a playboy bachelor (Robert Young) and he's naturally taken by her. Later, when she accidentally stows away on the same ship as Young, he befriends her and even wants to adopt her. But, he needs to find a wife FAST, as they won't let a bachelor adopt a kid. So, he asks a very nice lady (Alice Faye) and the rest is for you to see for yourself.This film is unusual in that it's pure sentimentality and schmaltz...yet it manages to work. This is because of the combined talents of Shirley, Robert Young and Alice Faye--who were all at the top of their game. Plus, the writing is good...provided you can dismiss some nagging questions you'll naturally face. So, try not to think HOW an orphan living in impoverished China can have permed curls, clean clothes and look well-fed! Just ignore all this and take in the fun--and the film does manage to be quite fun.By the way, in the credits, Faye's fiancé is credited as Allan Lane. Later, he gained fame as cowboy star 'Rocky' Lane.

Well, Shirley Temple is in Shanghai for this feel-good musical-drama-romance. She is an inadvertent stowaway in this story and even speaks in Chinese quite a bit. In addition she relates a few profound and touching Chinese sayings and does a cute song on stage on the boat.Looking after her are the adults leads: Robert Young (who looks very young in here) and Alice Faye. Also fun to see, speaking of young, is Arthur Treacher, who has some funny lines. There is not a lot of funny material in here but it's a nice film and definite good addition to any Shirley Temple collection. I also saw a colorized edition of this, and they it was one of the better jobs in that regard. It hasn't been issued on DVD yet, but I assume it will since most of films are out on that format by now.