Themes: Talking Animals, Unlikely Heroes, Military Life
Main Cast: Donald O'Connor, Patricia Medina, ZaSu Pitts, Ray Collins, John McIntire
Release Year: 1949
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
Plot
One wonders if Donald O'Connor would have consented to star in Francis if he knew that a series was to follow. Adapted by David Stern from his own novel, the film stars O'Connor as GI Peter Sterling, who appears to be bucking for a Section Eight. Seems that Sterling keeps insisting that Francis, a cantankerous Army mule, has the power of speech. It turns out that Francis not only can talk, but is also a superb military strategist. With Francis' help, Sterling breaks up a Nazi spy ring and becomes a hero -- but this is only the beginning, as the future entries in Universal's Francis series would prove over and over. Providing able support to the hapless O'Connor are Patricia Medina, Ray Collins, and especially ZaSu Pitts as a bewildered Army nurse. The voice of Francis is provided by Chill Wills, who likewise showed up in most of the Francis sequels, and who, like O'Connor, bailed out before the final entry, Francis in a Haunted House (1956). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Francis is the very definition of a high-concept comedy. Too often, the creators of such works never really move much beyond the concept, resulting in a film that very quickly runs out of steam. Francis is certainly not a classic, but its creators did build sufficiently upon the premise to create an engagingly silly little flick. The writers haven't bothered with much in the way of explanation where Francis is concerned, especially when it comes to how the mule is capable of speech, and some of the jokes are very obvious; but on the whole, Francis is written with a bit more care than might be expected, and the writers seem to enjoy the story they're concocting. Arthur Lubin's pacing is a bit leisurely, and the film clearly was not a big budget effort, but it does boast the amiable presence of Donald O'Connor and the feisty, raspy vocal work of Chill Wills, as well as the daffy ZaSu Pitts. O'Connor is more likeable than any actor has a right to be, and his quirky way with a phrase or the manner in which he lifts an eyebrow go a surprisingly long way. His is an expert comic performance -- not acting for the ages, but a light, delightful little job that helps lift Francis slightly above the ordinary. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Eduard Franz - Col. Plepper; Howland Chamberlain - Maj. Nadel; James Todd - Col. Saunders; Robert Warwick - Col. Carimichael; Frank Faylen - Sgt. Chillingbacker; Mikel Conrad - Maj. Garber; Loren Tindall - Maj. Richards; Charles Meredith - Banker Munroe; Al Ferguson - Capt. Dean; Harold Fong - Japanese Soldier; Tim Graham - Lt. Bremm; Harry Harvey - Correspondent; Jim Hayward - Capt. Norman; Judd Holdren - 1st Ambulance Man; Marvin Kaplan - 1st M.C. Lieutenant; Joseph Kim - Japanese Lieutenant; Mickey McCardle - Capt. Addison; Chill Wills - Francis the Talking Mule; Duke York - Sgt. Poor; Tony Curtis - Capt. Jones; Howard Negley - Correspondent; Jack Shutta - Sgt. Miller; Peter Prouse - Correspondent; Roger Moore - M.C. Major; Robert Anderson - Capt. Grant
Credit
Bernard Herzbrun - Art Director, Richard H. Riedel - Art Director, Rosemary Odell - Costume Designer, Arthur Lubin - Director, Miton Carruth - Editor, Frank Skinner - Composer (Music Score), Corson Jowett - Composer (Music Score), Bud Westmore - Makeup, Irving Glassberg - Cinematographer, Robert Arthur - Producer, Al Fields - Set Designer, Roland A. Fields - Set Designer, Russell A. Gausman - Set Designer, David S. Horsley - Special Effects, Leslie I. Carey - Sound/Sound Designer, Corson Jowett - Sound/Sound Designer, Les Weldon - Screenwriter, David Stern - Book Author
Second Lieutenant Peter Stirling (Donald O'Connor) is caught behind Japanese lines in Burma during World War II. Francis, a talking army mule, carries him to safety. When Stirling insists that the animal rescued him, he is placed in a psychiatric ward. Each time Stirling is released, he accomplishes something noteworthy (at the instigation of Francis). Each time, he is sent back to the ward when he insists on crediting the mule. Finally, Stirling gets General Stevens (John McIntire) to order Francis to speak, and he obeys.
During one of his enforced stays, he is befriended by Maureen Gelder (Patricia Medina), a beautiful French refugee. He grows to trust her and tells her about Francis. Later, a propaganda radio broadcast from Tokyo Rose mocks the Allies for being advised by a mule. This leads to Maureen being unmasked as a spy. The press is told that the absurd story was concocted in order to flush her out.
Francis is shipped back to America for further study, but his plane crashes in Kentucky. After the war, Peter searches for and finally finds him alive and well.
