During World War II, a junior American Army officer, Lt. Peter Stirling, gets sent to the psychiatric ward whenever he insists that an Army mule named Francis speaks to him.
Acting
Donald O'Connor's desperate earnestness vs. a mule's deadpan timing.
Writing
Francis's dialogue: somehow smarter than every officer in the room.
Practical Effects
Real mule, real commitment to the bit, zero CGI cowardice.
Director
Arthur Lubin
Donald O'Connor
Peter Stirling
Patricia Medina
Maureen Gelder
Zasu Pitts
Valerie Humpert
Ray Collins
Colonel Hooker
John McIntire
General Stevens
Eduard Franz
Colonel Plepper
Howland Chamberlain
Major Nadel
James Todd
Colonel Saunders
Robert Warwick
Colonel Carmichael
Frank Faylen
Sergeant Chillingbacker
Tony Curtis
Captain Jones
Mikel Conrad
Major Garber
Loren Tindall
Major Richards
Charles Meredith
Banker Munroe
Chill Wills
Francis the Talking Mule (voice)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The mule was played by a female named Molly, who reportedly bit Donald O'Connor multiple times.
This launched seven Francis sequels and made 'talking mule' a legitimate 1950s franchise—beating Mr. Ed to TV by a decade.
US
