Released in the US as Stowaway Girl, Manuela top-bills Trevor Howard as Prothero, the stalwart middle-aged skipper of a tramp steamer. Though he has a weakness for alcohol, Prothero is a model of restraint when it comes to the opposite sex. Thus, when his first mate Mario (Pedro Armendariz) smuggles the beautiful Manuela (Elsa Martinelli) on board, the captain administers a beating to Mario and sternly informs the girl that she'll be put off the ship at the first opportunity. It doesn't take long, however, for Prothero to fall prey to Manuela's considerable charms. Soon his passion is so overwhelming that he doesn't even notice that his ship has caught fire! Despite its melodramatic trappings, Manuela is intellegently written, directed and acted.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide