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Manuela (UK)
Stowaway Girl (US)
Manuela (UK); Stowaway Girl (US)
	Film poster
Directed by	Guy Hamilton
Written by	Guy Hamilton; Ivan Foxwell; William Woods
Produced by	Ivan Foxwell
Starring	Trevor Howard; Elsa Martinelli
Cinematography	Otto Heller
Edited by	Alan Osbiston
Music by	William Alwyn
Production; company	Ivan Foxwell Productions
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	June 1957;
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Manuela (U.S. title: Stowaway Girl ) is a 1957 British drama film directed by Guy Hamilton, starring Trevor Howard and Elsa Martinelli.^[1]

Plot

James Prothero is the jaded, alcoholic, disillusioned captain of a ship due to leave South America for England. He falls for Manuela, a young Spanish girl smuggled aboard by the ship's first mate. His infatuation leads to the loss of the ship. Realising he has no future with Manuela, he returns to sea alone. In an alternate ending, after being admonished by his shipmate Mario, the Captain reconsiders his decision to abandon Manuela. As he's leaving town with Mario, he stops and turns about face and enters the village. Leaving Mario outside the square, the Captain goes into the bar to find Manuela.

Cast

Trevor Howard as James Prothero
Elsa Martinelli as Manuela Hunt
Pedro Armendáriz as Mario Constanza
Donald Pleasence as Evans
Warren Mitchell as Moss
Jack MacGowran as Tommy
Leslie Weston as Bleloch
Harcourt Curacao as Wellington Jones
Barry Lowe as Murphy
Juan Carolilla as official
John Rae as Ferguson
Roger Delgado as stranger
Harold Kasket as Pereira
Max Butterfield as Bliss
Andy Ho as cook
Peter Illing as agent
Armand Guinle as patron
Michael Peake as Coca-Cola man
Ali Allen as boy (uncredited)
Christopher Lee as voice of Wellington Jones (uncredited)

Critical response

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "[But it is] on the whole an unsatisfying film, with its sum inferior to its parts, with disparate elements which somehow do not come together. This is due in large measure to the casting, with its obvious eye to the international market. Trevor Howard gives a finely-tempered performance as the middle-aged, alcoholic master, an almost Conradian character; but here, as in Outcast of the Islands [1952], he cannot succeed in conveying the illusion of an all-consuming passion, upon which the story of Manuela also hangs. Beside Elsa Martinelli's weakly inadequate lost waif, much of the power of Howard's acting is lost and it appears to be projected in vacuo. ... Otto Heller's camerawork is particularly fine, giving the film a visual quality which ultimately serves to expose a lack of distinction elsewhere."^[2]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "This unlikely shipboard romance was later gently lampooned in Carry On Jack [1964]. Director Guy Hamilton does a fair job of reining in Trevor Howard's natural bullishness, coming as close as anyone ever did to discovering vulnerability in his gruff make-up. Elsa Martinelli never really convinces in her boyish disguise, but it's clear to see why tipsy Captain Howard would fall for her. This frippery is beneath the cast, but it still has an easy charm."^[3]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Downbeat seafaring malodrama, fine for those seeking a mood piece."^[4]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "good", writing: "Overall quite powerful romantic drama somewhat after Joseph Conrad in tone."^[5]

Accolades

The film was entered into the 7th Berlin International Film Festival.^[6]

References

^ "Manuela". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ "Manuela". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 24 (276): 112. 1 January 1957 – via ProQuest.
^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 590. ISBN 9780992936440.
^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 655. ISBN 0586088946.
^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 344. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
^ "IMDB.com: Awards for Manuela". imdb.com. Retrieved 30 December 2009.