Customer Reviews

Stowaway [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Filmed in 1936 at the height of Shirley Temple's popularity, "Stowaway" is a lovely, light-hearted comedy.

Shirley plays "Ching-Ching," the orphaned daughter of missionaries in China. When her village is threatened by invaders, she is plucked from school by the village elder and sent off to the big city for safety. Along the way, her purse is stolen, she loses her guide and, while wandering through the streets, she befriends American playboy Tommy Randall (Robert Young, in a character that is miles away from his clean-cut "Father Knows Best" role!). After falling asleep in Randall's car, she finds herself an unwilling stowaway on a luxury cruise ship. Of course, she gets to stay on the boat, plays Cupid with Randall and Susan Parker (Alice Faye) and attempts to stay out of the mean old orphanage.

The story here is a lot of fun, and the setting is interesting. Temple was given a great showcase for her dramatic, rather than musical, abilities, and worked well with both Faye and Young. She spoke hundreds of Chinese phrases with correct tone and accent and did hilarious imitations of Al Jolson and Ginger Rogers. "Goodnight My Love," which was sung in the film (with different lyrics) by both Temple and Faye, was a 1936 radio hit.

STOWAWAY is one of Shirley Temple's best films, from her middle years with Twentieth Century-Fox. She gets to speak in another language and impresses with her impersonation skills.

She plays Ching-Ching, the enchanting young ward of two Chinese missionaries who are killed. Ching-Ching is smuggled away to Shanghai by the faithful Sun-Lo (Philip Ahn), only to get mixed up with carefree playboy Tommy Randall (Robert Young) after taking refuge in the trunk of his car. The car is loaded into the cargo of a luxurious ocean liner, of which Tommy is a passenger. Thus, Ching-Ching becomes the 'stowaway' of the title.

Alice Faye turns in a great performance as Susan, another passenger on the ship, traveling with her prospective mother-in-law (Helen Westley). All kinds of misadventures and misunderstandings occur before Ching-Ching ultimately brings together Tommy and Susan. Temple displays her uncanny skill for impersonation with her delightful takes on Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and Ginger Rogers dancing with Fred Astaire!

Shirley Temple sings "Goodnight My Love", "You Gotta S.M.I.L.E." and "That's What I Want for Christmas" and Alice Faye performs "One Never Knows". Truly a delightful film. This is the colourised edition, but do yourself a favour and turn down the colour setting on your TV - and watch the film as it was originally intended to be screened.

This is one of Shirley's greatest films she ever made. In this movie you see
all of that talent shine through with a great cast, sweet music, and a
lovable story you can't go wrong with this Temple treasure.

In this film Shirley becomes a little lost girl after wandering away from
her care-giver and by luck runs into Robert Young who becomes quickly
charmed by little Shirley who speaks fluent Chinese and knows dozens of
Chinese proverbs, When, Shirley accidently wanders onto Young's ship and
quickly becomes a Stowaway making another friend Faye who returns her to her
friend Young-- both Young and Faye fall in love with Shirley and un-knowly
with eachother. When they learn Shirley must be sent to orphanage both are
eager to adopt the Young girl only problem-- it has to be a married couple.
So, both of them get married to be a "marriage in name only" but, will
divorce when they arrive back in the states-- but things don't go as planned
when a well-meaning judge and Shirley team up-together to save the couple.

A great Temple film featuring two of her hits "You Got To Smile To Be H-A-
double-P-Y" and "Goodnight, My Love" this movie includes Shirley doing an
impressive Astaire imitation and of course her precious nature. Shirley is
adorable in this film and quickly you fall in love with her as the Chinese
missionary orphan. Young also does a fabulous job as the instant father who
is changed for the better because of Shirley. Faye also has a beautiful
voice that you get the chance to hear in "Good-night My Love."

All in all this movie will make you H-A- double P-Y.

Soon Wizard of Oz would come but in " 37 " for now Shirley was the queen of the screen. You wouldnt believe how much talent showed in this movie of hers. She spoke chinese and amazed the crowd. She did a hilarious imitation of Giner Rogers and Fred Astaire. I was surprised how well she did in this more dramatic film of hers not only was she all you wanted to see but the story of the other characters was really entertaning too. I was glued to the screen for the entie film!

Geourgeuos Shirley Temple plays Ching-Ching a little girl who was orphaned and then left as a stowaway. The child genius Shirley is speaks fluent Chinese and makes it look easy. Alice Faye who also stars in this lovely film, also shows great acting skills and so does they very funny and entertaining Robert Young. The movie is partially set on a cruise boat which has amzing scenery which makes the movie even better. This is a wonderful movie and will bring an everlasting smile to your face!

I love Shirley! This is one of her best dramas vs. musical. Her chemistry is good with Robert Young, and she even does well with foreign language. A must for a Shirley Temple collector.

Although I am not a special fan of Shirley Temple movies, I must say that this one was quite appealing and is the best of her movies that I have seen (I've seen most). Temple is unfailingly cute as the little orphan, and the romantic storyline is engaging. The movie does, of course, border on corny (as do all her films), but it's other merits overshadow that and it's quite entertaining.

Stowaway is one of my favorite Shirley Temple movies! The item is in great condition and was priced low. I'm glad to add this to my collection.

I remember this when I was little. I never noticed that little Shirley was so pudgy! Still today (Hundreds of years later), this is a very nice movie. My 14 year old Grand Daughter even enjoyed it. Little Shirley Temple brings this movie alive with her ability to express love and a warm tenderness that, one can almost feel through the screen. This is a movie that should be added to your library if.... you like to cuddle and are looking for a reason to share with someone.

This is one of Shirley's best in my opinion. I have watched this over and over. Good for the young at heart. Happy viewing