STOWAWAY
US, 1936, 86 minutes, Black and white.
Shirley Temple, Robert Young, Alice Faye, Eugene Pallette, Helen Westley, Arthur Treacher, J. Edward Bromberg.
Directed by William A. Seiter.
Stowaway is one of the many pleasant Shirley Temple vehicles of the mid-'30s. Within two years Shirley Temple had topped box office popularity in the United States in the atmosphere of the Depression. She was making up to four films a year in the 1935-38 period from which this film comes. The films generally have the same kind of formula - the touch of the contemporary fairy tale, no matter what their setting.
This film opens in the popular China of '30s movies - with missionaries and warlord and violence. There is also the modern Shanghai and the romantic cruise of the Orient. Shirley is an orphan in China - speaking Chinese fluently amongst her other talents. These include, of course, a talent for singing and dancing. In this case it also means that she can sing a song in the style of A1 Jolson, of Eddie Cantor and dance it like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. She is certainly a forward and precocious child.
In support she has the debonair Robert Young and the charming Alice Faye (who had appeared with her in Poor Little Rich Girl). Helen Westley enjoys herself as an intrusive mother-in-law and Arthur Treacher is the discreet English butler. Definitely for Shirley fans - as well as for adults. But it is very much a vehicle of the '30s.
1. Entertainment value as a comedy of the 1930s? Romance? Shirley Temple vehicle? The popularity of Shirley Temple's character and, style for Depression audiences? Later?
2. Black and white photography, the studio's version of China and Shanghai, eastern ports? Song and dance routines? Comic touches? The musical scores and the romantic and humorous songs? Cute Shirley Temple style, ballad Alice Faye, style?
3. The title and expectations? The indication of shipboard comedy and romance?
4. The opening in China, the stubborn missionary, Barbara as an orphan, her living in China and having a Chinese name, fluent in Chinese? Her being saved by the Chinese - who bequeathed her his proverbs? Her trip to Shanghai? With her dog, hungry? Helping Tommy Randall with h is buying? The outing with him? Asleep in his car? Put on board the ship?
5. Ching-Ching? - cute Shirley Temple character, Tommy Randall's comment that she looked like a child but sounded like an adult? Her love for the Chinese? Her boldness on the boat? The Captain allowing her to stay? Tommy looking after her? Susan's concern for her? Mrs Hope's dislike of her? The shipboard activities, including the valet trying to play? The problems of a child from China, her having to go to an institution? Her being rescued by Tommy and Susan marrying? The build-up to the divorce - and the discussion with the judge, being coached what to say by the judge? The happy ending?
6. Robert Young's style as the typical debonair type of 1930s movies - wealthy, away from parents, women chasing him? Self-confidence, drinking, drinking friends, his valet? His irresponsibility as regards Barbara? His discovery of her, his apology, looking after her, the outing in Hong Kong? His attraction towards Susan, her rejection? His proposal to save Barbara? The divorce - but, of course, the happy ending?
7. Alice Faye's style as Susan, under Mrs Hope's thumb, her self-assertion, not in love with Richard, attracted towards Tommy but rejecting him, concern for Ching-Ching? Going through the marriage ceremony? Being compromised in Mrs Hope's eyes, Richard's proposal, the divorce - but declaring her love for Tommy?
8. The comedy with Mrs Hope as the interfering mother-in-law? Richard as the typical colonial type out in the East - trying to preserve American style and values in Bangkok? His being under the thumb of his mother-in-law?
9. The gallery of minor characters - the Captain and his concern, the valet and his very English style, but imitating trains etc. to amuse Ching-Ching? Tommy's extravagant friends? The judge and his concern?
10. The musical interludes - Alice Faye's romantic style? Shirley Temple's cute imitations of Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Pred Astaire and Ginger Rogers?
11. The impact of this kind of film during the Depression? Dreams come true? Alice Faye's dialogue criticising the debonair hero as a time-waster and as a museum piece? The film in its time, In retrospect?
