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 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 Joins 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, I find the most memorable. His shocking discovery that Francis can ,indeed, talk, when he wants to, and subsequent defense of this ability to nonbelievers is simply hilarious. .. 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.
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 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 Joins 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, I find the most memorable. His shocking discovery that Francis can ,indeed, talk, when he wants to, and subsequent defense of this ability to nonbelievers is simply hilarious. .. 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.