Though repetitive, even at a running time of 91 minutes, there are some low good laughs in Francis, Arthur Lubin’s animal comedy of 1950, which was the 11th-most successful hit in the U.S. that year.
Grade: B-
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Theatrical release poster
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Produced by Robert Arthurnd and distributed by Universal-International, it launched the Francis the Talking Mule film series. The film was produced by and directed by Arthur Lubin.
It stars Donald O’Connor and Patricia Medina, with Chill Wills providin the Francis’ distinctive voice.
Six Francis sequels from Universal followed the film, all but one starring O’Connor; Mickey Rooney replaced O’Connor in the series’ final film.
A bank manager speaks with teller Peter Stirling, who has been attracting public attention, and Stirling relates his story in a flashback.
Stirling, a second lieutenant, is caught behind Japanese lines in Burma during WWII, and a talking Army mule named Francis carries him to safety.
When Stirling insists that the mule had rescued him, he is placed in psychiatric ward.
In an effort to obtain his release, Stirling asks general Stevens to order Francis to speak, but Francis does not obey until it becomes clear that Stirling will be arrested for treason if he remains silent.
During one of his hospital stays, Stirling is befriended by Maureen Gelder, 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, leading to the suspicion that Stirling or Gelder is a Japanese agent.
Francis is shipped to the U.S. for further study, but his military transport crashes in the wilderness of Kentucky. Stirling searches for him after the war and finds him alive and well.
Lubin claimed that he was attracted to the material because “as a movie fan myself, I am tired of watching neurotic material on the screen. I can easily skip the latest psychiatric spell binders, but I’ve seen Miracle on 34th Street a half dozen times.”
The film was budgeted at $580,000 but finished $42,000 over budget. Lubin was paid flat fee of $25,000, Donald got $30,000, and the mule cost nothing. Lubin recalled: “We had three mules, and we made that picture in 15 days.”
Lubin Typecast
Lubin became associated with films about animals having human traits, and offered projects about a talking Navy goat, Abbott and Costello film with chimpanzees and talking goose. He later directed Rhubarb (1951), about a cat who owns a baseball team, and the Francis sequel films. He also developed the popular TV sitcom Mister Ed, featuring a talking horse.
First shown in January 1950 to Army troops in West Germany, Francis premiered in New Oreans.
Universal released all 7 Francis films as a set on three DVDs as Francis the Talking Mule: The Complete Collection.
Cast
Donald O’Connor as Peter Stirling
Patricia Medina as Maureen Gelder
Chill Wills as Francis the talking mule (voice)
ZaSu Pitts as Nurse Valerie Humpert
Ray Collins as Colonel Hooker
John McIntire as General Stevens (as John McIntyre)
Eduard Franz as Colonel Plepper
Howland Chamberlain as Major Nadel
James Todd as Colonel Saunders
Robert Warwick as Colonel Carmichael
Frank Faylen as Sergeant Chillingbacker
Tony Curtis as Captain Jones (as Anthony Curtis)
Credits
Directed by Arthur Lubin
Screenplay by David Stern III, Dorothy Reid (uncredited), based on Francis
1946 novel by David Stern
Produced by Robert Arthur
Cinematography Irving Glassberg
Edited by Milton Carruth
Music by Frank Skinner, Walter Scharf
Production and Distribution: Universal-International
Release dates: Feb 8, 1950 (New Orleans); March 15, 1950 (NY)
Running time: 91 minutes
Budget: $622,000
Box office: $2.9 million (US rentals)
