Shirley Temple as Ching Ching in 1936

To commemorate the death of Shirley Temple it seems only fitting that China Rhyming should recall her one celluloid outing to China – Stowaway (1936). Though she didn’t play “yellowface” Shirley was Barbara “Ching Ching” Stewart, a charming orphan stranded in China and originally from Sanchow (no such place, but it sounds kinda Chinesey). When bandits threaten, Ching Ching is taken to Shanghai for safety and meets Tommy Randall, a rich playboy traveling about the world on a ship. Ching Ching accidentally becomes a stowaway on his ship.

Apparently Temple learnt 40 words of Chinese to play the part, which, she later claimed, took her six months!! Trivia fans may like to know that after the film wrapped Temple was given the Pekingese dog that had played her character’s pet dog, “Mr. Woo.” Temple renamed the dog “Ching-Ching,” after her character in the movie. Sweet!