Stingaree is an American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by William A. Wellman released by RKO Radio Pictures in 1934.

[3][4] In 1874 Australia, newly installed Police Inspector Radford boasts to wealthy Hugh Clarkson that he will capture the famous outlaw Stingaree, who has returned to the area.

When Stingaree enters the Clarkson residence to reconnoitre for a future robbery, she mistakes him for Sir Julian and sings for him.

When they reach his hideout, Stingaree is annoyed to find that Howie has let Sir Julian escape, foiling his attempt to get her an audition.

Hilda refuses, unwilling to abandon Stingaree, but then she receives a letter from him telling her to pursue her dream, and that he gave up his freedom for her.

He persuades her to perform at a concert in Melbourne, hoping that the contrast with the fabulous opera houses of Europe will change her mind.

In June 1933, RKO, then under production chief Merian C. Cooper, purchased rights to the stories as a vehicle for Irene Dunne.

"[7] In October 1933 Dunne signed a new two-year contract with RKO the first film of which was to be Stingaree with Richard Dix, with whom she had made the highly successful Cimarron.

[11] RKO decided to replace him with John Boles, but he was not available, pushing back shooting so Dunne could make Age of Innocence.

[1] In 1934, Mordaunt Hall's review in The New York Times called the film "nicely done" and said that its "impossible happenings are highly entertaining."

Released during preparations for the centennial celebration in Melbourne, it was described by one local paper as a "pleasant trifle"[17] while another found it "hard to swallow" with its plot being "a little too improbable for anyone, let alone an Australian audience.

According to an interview with a retired RKO executive, used as a promo on TCM for the premiere, Cooper allowed these films to be shown in 1955–1956 in a limited re-release and only in New York City.

Until the rights were purchased by Turner and released on DVD, Stingaree had not been seen since a single television viewing in the late 1950s.