Four stars for nostalgic value, and cute mule
Peter Stirling (Donald O'Connor) is a former bank clerk turned soldier who finds himself cast in role of reluctant hero when he strikes up a friendship with Francis, an Army mule who can talk (voiced by Chill Wills, and played by a female named Molly). Ala Cyrano de Bergerac, Francis helps Peter to win the girl of his dreams, a shapely nurse named Patricia (Maureen Gelder). Unfortunately, the stubborn mule thinks mum's the word whenever Peter tries to tell others of the critter's gift of gab: This sends Peter to the psych ward more than once, where he becomes an expert basket-weaver. Several sequels kicked the Francis franchise into high gear, making for a memorably fun series of silly and cute family films. Based upon a novel by David Stern.

Staci Layne Wilson

It Should Have Been Called Donald and A Mule
Donald O'Connor was a superior talent -- great dancer (anyone who can keep up with Gene Kelly and make it look easy is almost supernatural!), great actor (is there anyone in the world who doesn't love his smart aleck piano player, Cosmo Brown in Singin' In The Rain?)...and this series proves he was also a great comedien.

This, the first in the Francis the Talking Mule series, is touching and funny by turns. O'Connor once remarked that he enjoyed this film because it gave him a chance to intermingle a little bit of drama with the comedy. The movie opens with young second lieutenant, Peter Stirling, wounded, terrified, exhausted, and lost deep behind enemy lines in Burma. He's rescued by, of all things, a talking army mule who carries him seven miles to safety and becomes his best friend. Being a talking animal's friend has its advantages and disadvantges. On the plus side, Francis is great at ferreting out enemy positions on the island and making Peter look like a war hero. On the minus side, everyone thinks Peter is insane and he keeps finding himself inside psycho wards. O'Connor really makes you care for his slightly dense, painfully young character, and this first movie in the popular series really makes you want to see "what happens next" as the movie series progresses.

If I have any criticism at all, it's not the film's fault -- it's a product of its times. The supporting characters are sterotyped and forced, but who cares? Whenever Donald and Francis are on the screen, they make up for everything!

Francis movies span the generations!!!!!!!!!
I recently introduced by 13 year old granddaughter to the Francis series. They touched a part of her funny bone that had never been reached before -- she went from giggles to belly-laughs. She doesn't understand why none of her friends have heard of them. She noticed after watching the first two movies that the humor wasn't cruel in any way -- it was just plain fun. I was truly amazed when she said -- and I quote: "They just don't make movies like this anymore, do they, Mawmaw?" Invest in the entire set and start a family night tradition. These movies can be enjoyed by ALL ages!!!!!

Groan
Try to find a laugh in this film. I dare you. It's a tribute to the sappiness of the 1950s (otherwise a healthy and much missed era) that this sort of thing could be a box office smash. Poor Donald O'Connor. While he's making Singing In The Rain, he's stuck in this Universal "B" series that must have embarrassed him as much as it now embarrasses the rest of us.

The two best Francis comedies make a great double feature.
Although these films were made five years apart, the later one is loaded with references to the earlier one, making this a fine double bill. FRANCIS has soldier Donald O'Connor vainly trying to convince his superior officers that he knows a mule that talks. The gimmick is a good one (the director later worked on TV's "Mister Ed"), and it's an enjoyable movie. FRANCIS JOINS THE WACS is even funnier, with O'Connor recalled to duty but in the Women's Army Corps. O'Connor plays the mule's pal more broadly this time, and the script gives him plenty of room for clowning (in one scene O'Connor has to masquerade as a WAC nurse while Francis hilariously heckles everybody). Very well done technically; you'll be amazed at how well the dialogue is fitted to Francis's facial movements. Both films have good supporting casts, especialy Ray Collins and John McIntire in the first film, Lynn Bari and Julia Adams in the second, and Chill Wills and ZaSu Pitts in both. A fun show from Universal.