SparkMore n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Yash Wade Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

weezeralfalfa Established the general format for the remaining 5 films in this series that costarred Francis the Talking Mule(with the voice of Chill Wills) and Donald O'Connor, all shot in B&W, and all directed by Arthur Lubin. This series was inspired by the writings of David Stern, who also wrote the screenplay for this first one, but not subsequent ones. The main setting of the screenplay is the Burmese jungle, in the midst of WWII, with Japanese military threatening, with occasional excursions in various parts of the US. It opens with Don(Peter) a bank teller whom the customers avoid, presumably because he claims he can talk to a mule. He then relates to the bank president how he discovered this mule in the Burmese jungle. Frances helps save Don from a Japanese ambush, then gives advice on several subsequent military operations. Each time, Don is congratulated on his amazing exploits, then sent to the psycho ward for a spell, because he claims he got his info and strategy from a mule.Patricia Medina, as Maureen, strikes up a friendship with Don and learns that Francis really can talk. However, she has a secret that isn't revealed until near the end. Francis initially refused to talk to others, but eventually talked to the general( well played by John McIntire). Reluctantly, he eventually talks to a room full of army brass and news reporters, and is flown to the Pentagon for further observation.The whole story is absurd, but sort of fun. It's not nearly as good as the 2 later films I've seen: "Francis joins the WACS" and "Frances in the Navy".Included are several well-recognized character actors. Zasu Pitts is the nurse in the psycho ward. She would return for the same role in "Francis Johns the WACs", where she talks about Burma.....Ray Collins, as the disbelieving Colonel, appeared in about 90 films, usually as some type of authority figure... John McIntire, as the general, appeared in over 50 films, plus innumerable TV programs. I most remember him as the charismatic crooked "town boss" of Skagway, in "The Far Country"... Tony Curtis supposedly has a small part, but I missed him.Don, of course, was an excellent dancer and singer, as well as comedian: skills not utilized in this series. He would gain wide fame in "Singing in the Rain", although he danced and sang in many Universal films long before that.This film cost only $150,000. to make and returned several $millions. I believe all the Frances films were quite profitable, but eventually Don got weary of being second best to a mule.

wes-connors Mild-mannered bank teller Donald O'Connor (as Peter Stirling) explains some strange behavior to his boss by explaining how he met "Francis" – a talking mule. We flashback to Mr. O'Connor's World War II service. In Burma, the wounded second lieutenant is stranded behind enemy lines. Francis carries O'Connor to an Army hospital, then disappears. Of course, of course everyone thinks O'Connor's crazy when he mentions befriending a talking mule. At a dance, O'Connor meets shapely Patricia Medina (as Maureen Gelder). Watch, here, for young Anthony "Tony" Curtis to appear briefly as a sex-starved soldier. Suddenly, Francis appears to whisk O'Connor away for an important mission...Neither the best nor the funniest film in the "Francis" series, this first effort has lost a little freshness in comparison. Still, you have good chemistry between O'Connor and Francis (voiced by Chill Wills). The scenes with the duo, directed by Arthur Lubin, play well...After the films ran their course, Mr. Lubin took the concept to TV with the series "Mister Ed" (starring Alan Young). Probably due to difficulty obtaining rights, "Ed" (a talking horse) replaced "Francis". Both were derived from literary works, where the horse preceded the mule. The preference of the talking animal for his human friend, his frequent attempts to take O'Connor (and later, Young) away from female companionship, adeptness with the telephone and other story elements are here. Lubin's series became charmingly more surreal over the years, fitting the 1960s perfectly.****** Francis (the Talking Mule) (2/50) Arthur Lubin ~ Donald O'Connor, Patricia Medina, Chill Wills, Zasu Pitts

David (Handlinghandel) "Francis" is extremely entertaining on the surface. It has likable characters and Chill Wills is great as the voice of the mule. It's a must for lovers of animals.Almost from the start, though, I felt a subtext. Maybe this was conscious at the time. Maybe it wasn't. In 1950 when the movie was released, there were things more common than saying you were talking to a mule that could land you in the "psycho ward." (Hero Donald O'Connor is shown in scene after scene weaving increasingly elaborate baskets.) His superiors and fellow soldier deride him. The mule is of undetermined gender. The mule speaks in a wittily sarcastic way that presages the tone from "All About Eve." (Or Thelma Ritter's lines, anyway.) One of the two women in the movie is a temptress, maybe not so nice. The other is ZaSu Pitts. Pitts plays a rather plump nurse who is very understanding of O'Connor.It spawned several sequels, which were doubtless aimed at children. But this seems in many ways like an allegory about the love that in those days dared not speak its name.

swedensm I remember watching this movie as a young child, and it is one of my sweetest memories. I used to rush to eat my dinner (or not eat at all) so I could sit in front of the television for the Sunday Matinée, which always played family movies. The Francis series is one of my favorites.Who could resist a talking mule (particularly with that squeaky-gate voice supplied by veteran actor Chill Wills) or the innocent face of Donald O'Connor as they're coming to take him away one more time (for insisting that the mule could speak)? Not this child.One of the best all-time children's series of the post WW2 era -- one I would share with any child -- or anyone who is a child at heart.