Stowaway 1936

Adventure

Family

Music

Runtime

87 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Robert Young

Made by

20th Century Fox

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Stowaway Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Stowaway (1936). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Barbara “Ching-Ching” Stewart is an American orphan living in Sanchow, China with her missionary guardians. When bandits threaten the village, she is sent to Shanghai for safety. Accidentally separated from her guide, Ching-Ching finds herself alone in Shanghai with her dog, Mr. Wu.

She then meets Tommy Randall, a wealthy American playboy who travels the world by ocean liner. He leaves Ching-Ching in his convertible car while he goes into a hotel to see several friends. When Tommy returns, it seems Ching-Ching is gone, though she actually crawled into the car’s trunk as rain began to fall and has fallen asleep. Tommy’s car is loaded into the ship’s cargo hold, and Ching-Ching unexpectedly becomes a stowaway. When she is discovered, Tommy provides for her, helped by Susan Parker, a beautiful young woman traveling aboard the ship with her future mother-in-law, Mrs. Hope. They are bound for Bangkok, where Susan is to marry her fiancé, Richard Hope, who works there.

As Tommy and Susan grow attracted to one another during the voyage, Ching-Ching plays Cupid to ignite a romance between them. Mrs. Hope, alarmed over Susan’s attachment to Tommy, telegraphs Richard to meet them at the next port.

Tommy and Susan learn that Ching-Ching’s guardians were killed by bandits, and that she is to disembark at the next port to go to an orphanage in Shanghai. Tommy wants to stop this by adopting Ching-Ching, but as a bachelor, he cannot. He asks Susan Parker to adopt Ching-Ching when she marries Richard Hope, but only until he can himself marry and then adopt her. The Hopes, especially Mrs. Hope, selfishly reject this plan. Disgusted by Richard’s callous attitude and his overbearing mother’s constant interference, Susan ends her engagement in response. She agrees to marry Tommy in name only so they can adopt Ching-Ching. They plan to divorce upon returning to the US, giving Tommy custody. During the court proceedings, presided over by Judge Booth, they realize they love each other. They remain married and jointly adopt Ching-Ching.

Stowaway Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Stowaway (1936) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Bandits threaten Sanchow

In Sanchow, China, Barbara 'Ching-Ching' Stewart lives under the care of missionary guardians. When bandits threaten the village, the guardians decide to move her to Shanghai for safety. The attempted relocation sets the stage for a perilous journey and the fragility of her guardians' protection.

Sanchow, China

Ching-Ching heads for Shanghai

Ching-Ching is sent to Shanghai for safety, but chaos in the journey leads to her being accidentally separated from her guide. She finds herself alone in Shanghai with her dog, Mr. Wu.

Shanghai, China

Meeting the world-traveling Tommy

Ching-Ching meets Tommy Randall, a wealthy American playboy who travels the world by ocean liner. Their encounter hints at a complicated bond that will unfold across seas and ports.

Shanghai

Tommy leaves her in the car

Tommy leaves Ching-Ching in his convertible car while he goes into a hotel to see friends. When he returns, it appears she is gone, but she has quietly crawled into the car’s trunk and fallen asleep.

Shanghai

Ching-Ching becomes a stowaway

Tommy's car is loaded into the ship's cargo hold, and Ching-Ching accidentally becomes a stowaway. Her presence is finally discovered as the voyage begins.

On board the ocean liner

Susan Parker and Mrs. Hope assist

Ching-Ching is helped by Susan Parker and her future mother-in-law, Mrs. Hope, who are traveling aboard the ship. Tommy is compelled to look after the girl as they head toward Bangkok, where Susan is to marry Richard Hope.

On the ocean liner

Guardians killed; orphanage looming

The voyage reveals that Ching-Ching's guardians were killed by bandits, and she is slated to disembark at the next port to go to an orphanage in Shanghai. This forces a practical consideration: who will adopt and care for her?

On the ocean liner

Tommy's adoption plan

Tommy wishes to adopt Ching-Ching but cannot do so while still a bachelor. He asks Susan to adopt her when she marries Richard, albeit only temporarily until he can marry and legally adopt.

On the ocean liner

Susan ends her engagement

The Hopes reject the temporary adoption plan, and Susan ends her engagement to Richard due to his and his mother's interference. She then agrees to marry Tommy in name only so they can pursue adopting Ching-Ching.

On the ocean liner

Marriage in name, plan to divorce

Tommy and Susan marry in name only so they can adopt Ching-Ching, with an understanding to divorce upon returning to the United States so Tommy can have custody. The arrangement is born out of necessity rather than romance.

On the voyage to the United States

Courtroom revelations

During the court proceedings, Tommy and Susan realize they are falling in love. The legal act that was meant to secure adoption begins to reveal unexpected, deeper feelings between them.

United States (court proceedings)

A family formed

Tommy and Susan decide to stay married and jointly adopt Ching-Ching, forming a family that blends romance with guardianship. The trio begins their life together as a United States-based family.

United States

Stowaway Characters

Explore all characters from Stowaway (1936). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Barbara 'Ching-Ching' Stewart (Shirley Temple)

An American orphan living in China who is resourceful and courageous. She survives the bandit-threatened village and ends up stowing away in Tommy's car, unintentionally propelling thevoyage and the relationships that follow. Her innocence and determination spark the romance and the push toward a better family arrangement.

🧒 Orphan 🎯 Catalyst 💫 Innocence

Tommy Randall (Robert Young)

A wealthy American playboy who travels the world by ocean liner. He develops feelings for Susan and becomes determined to care for Ching-Ching, despite being a bachelor. His pragmatism about adoption evolves into real commitment and love as the story unfolds.

💎 Wealth 🧭 Adventurous 💘 Romantic

Susan Parker (Alice Faye)

A beautiful young woman traveling with her future mother-in-law. She grows attracted to Tommy and agrees, in name, to marry him so they can adopt Ching-Ching. She ultimately embraces love and family, choosing to stay married with Tommy after discovering true feelings.

💗 Romance 🕊️ Independence 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 Commitment

Mrs. Hope (Helen Westley)

Susan's formidable mother-in-law who interferes with Susan's relationship and plans. She is protective of social appearances and skeptical of the adoption arrangement, creating conflict that the lovers must navigate.

🎭 Antagonist 🛑 Control 💬 Interference

The Colonel (Eugene Pallette)

A shipboard authority figure whose presence underscores order and guidance during the voyage. He embodies stability and helps influence decisions in the travelers’ evolving dynamics.

🎖️ Authority 🧭 Guidance

Captain (Robert Greig)

The ship's captain who oversees the safety and smooth operation of the voyage. His leadership provides a steady backdrop to the unfolding personal drama and the stowaway situation.

⚓ Leadership 🚢 Ship life

Richard Hope (Allan Lane)

Susan's fiancé who works in Bangkok. Portrayed as somewhat callous and heavily influenced by his mother, his engagement is threatened by the growing bond between Susan and Tommy, prompting a shift in plans.

💔 Social status 🕰️ Arranged marriage

Stowaway Settings

Learn where and when Stowaway (1936) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1930s

The events unfold in the 1930s, a period when international travel by ocean liner was glamorous and feasible for wealthy travelers. The narrative reflects a globe-trotting era with Westerners moving between Asia and America. Bandit threats in China and the voyage to Bangkok illustrate a world where travel and cross-cultural encounters are central to the plot. Social norms and marriage arrangements are shaped by the era's attitudes toward family and guardianship.

Location

Sanchow, Shanghai, Bangkok

The story begins in Sanchow, China, where Ching-Ching's life with her missionary guardians is threatened by bandits. She then moves to Shanghai, a bustling port city where she ends up alone and seeking safety. The voyage takes place aboard a world-spanning ocean liner that travels toward Bangkok, the next port where Susan Parker is to marry. Bangkok serves as the destination that motivates the characters’ plans and their ensuing decisions.

🌍 Cross-cultural 🚢 Travel 🏙️ City & Rural

Stowaway Themes

Discover the main themes in Stowaway (1936). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

❤️

Romance

Romance drives much of the plot as Tommy and Susan grow closer during the voyage. Their feelings evolve from attraction to genuine affection, even as they navigate obstacles and societal expectations. The romance also interacts with Ching-Ching’s presence, catalyzing actions and decisions that bring the main couple together.

👪

Family & Adoption

A central thread is the desire to provide a stable family for Ching-Ching after her guardians die. The plan to adopt her leads to a marriage of convenience between Tommy and Susan, highlighting how family bonds can precede romantic love. The story culminates in forming a true family that includes the child, beyond mere legal arrangements.

⚖️

Marriage & Law

Legal and societal expectations shape the characters’ choices, as marriage becomes the vehicle for adoption. The court proceedings and the decision to marry for the child’s sake create tension and highlight the balance between personal happiness and parental duty. Ultimately, the arrangement leads to genuine love and a lasting union.

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Stowaway Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Stowaway (1936). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In bustling 1930s Shanghai, the city’s clamor of street markets and neon‑lit avenues frames the story of a bright‑voiced young girl, Chin‑Ching, whose Mandarin songs echo the promise of an adventurous spirit. When a sudden upheaval separates her from the safety of a familiar guide, she finds herself wandering the labyrinthine streets alone, accompanied only by her loyal dog, Mr. Wu. The bustling metropolis, alive with a mixture of tradition and modernity, becomes a backdrop for an unexpected encounter that will set her on a course far beyond its fog‑filled alleys.

Across the harbor, the charismatic American playboy Tommy Randall glides through the same city in his sleek convertible, his world defined by glamour, spontaneous travel, and a casual disregard for routine. A chance meeting brings Chin‑Ching into his orbit, and a momentary lapse—a sleepy child hidden within the car’s trunk—propels her onto the deck of an ocean liner bound for the United States. The ship itself, a floating micro‑cosm of continents, carries passengers from disparate backgrounds, each cloaked in their own hopes and secrets, while the rolling sea offers a quiet contrast to Shanghai’s frenetic pulse.

Among the ship’s varied travelers is the poised and vivacious Susan Parker, a young woman journeying toward an arranged future that already hints at hidden layers of desire and responsibility. Her presence introduces a new dynamic, suggesting possibilities of companionship, cultural exchange, and perhaps a deeper connection that could reshape the lives of those aboard. As the vessel cuts through the ocean’s endless horizon, the stage is set for an intricate dance of personalities, where innocence meets experience, and the promise of a new family begins to glimmer on the edge of the unknown.

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