SpunkySelfTwitter It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Leoni Haney Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

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.

bkoganbing Talking animals have been a big draw for the big screen and small. From the Francis the talking mule series to the current Dog With A Blog there is something perverse in the human spirit where we enjoy seeing animals outsmart humans, especially verbally. I guess it was the secret of the success of the series.In this first film which I don't think Universal thought would turn into a series, Donald O'Connor is back from the war and telling his boss at the bank he works at Charles Meredith about his interesting experiences in the China-Burma-India theater of the late war. After being separated from his outfit young 2nd Lieutenant O'Connor gets back to his base when a talking army mule named Francis showed him the way.That gets him assigned to G-2 Intelligence and he pulls off quite a few coups. But when asked to reveal his source O'Connor tells his superiors it was a talking mule. That lands him in the Psych ward under the tender care of nurse Zasu Pitts.The human players must truly have had to suck it in and realize that the mule with Chill Wills's voice was upstaging them. Some real recognition goes to John McIntire who plays a general who is the only other person that Francis the Talking Mule ever talked to in the series besides O'Connor and Mickey Rooney in the last film. McIntire may have been one of the greatest actors who ever lived, managing to keep a straight face while dialoging with a jackass.If you don't blink you'll see Tony Curtis in a small role as another officer. And Patricia Medina lends her beauty as a fetching lady spy. If you like Dog With A Blog or Mister Ed, you'll enjoy the Francis series.

szekeong123 It is not hard to see why this film was so popular when it was released theatrically, and easy to understand why it failed to create a new generation of fans. Apparently, it is not a film worthy of being a classic, since there is nothing special about this film. In fact, it is inferior to a similarly-themed family classic released in the same year, "Harvey", starring James Stewart. In both films, the central character is accused of being mentally unsound for communicating with animals.Still, this is a well-made movie with reasonably good writing and direction, featuring talented casts which elevated the film. In particular, Donald O'Connor displayed as much acting range here as James Stewart did in "Harvey". Both of them have this rare ability to emit boyish innocence, something which is even rarer nowadays. Best known for his comedic second-banana performance and exuberant dancing in "Singin' in the Rain", he has the opportunity to display his dramatic acting ability that is sadly overlooked.This film is definitely a good option if you want to have an enjoyable time with the young children.

JoeKarlosi Just got through the first entry in this series. So-so, but not all that much to rave about. Some fun watching the "Talking Mule" interacting with a young Donald O'Connor as a GI, but I hope the franchise managed to strike some funnier chords as it progressed. This talkative jackass isn't very nice, but I suppose that in itself presents some humor as he insults people and comes across as knowing more than we do. In this first installment he's guiding Americans through the war against the "Japs" and helps O'Connor become a War Hero. I think I'd have preferred a more "domestic" setting. Oh well, maybe for the rest of the series... ** out of ****