In this 1936 image, Shirley is shown on the set of “Stowaway,” reading her script with her Chinese language teacher, Bessie Nyi, a UCLA student. Want to see the page she’s reading? Of course you do.
There is enough of the script that’s in focus that I was able to share with my friend Melissa (aka “The Colonel”) and within minutes she sent me screenshots of the script copy that she owns. Sure beats google! The copy that Melissa has ends at different points than the one shown in the vintage photo. The line in her script has been changed to "So I've been told," meaning it's a later revision.
The scene in the photo takes place shortly after playboy Tommy Randall (Robert Young) is assisted by Ching Ching (Shirley) in a Chinese gift shop.
The two hit it off immediately and he takes her to lunch.
Moral of this story: it pays to know people! Thanks again, Colonel!
See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.
