Francis in the Navy main backdrop
Francis in the Navy main poster

Francis in the Navy

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5.5/10 • 22

1955-08-241h 20m

ComedyFamilyFantasyRomance

That talking mule is back... and the Navy's got him!

In the U. S. Army intelligence office, bumbling lieutenant Peter Stirling receives a coded message from his friend, Francis, a talking mule. The note urges Pete to hurry to the Coronado, California naval base, where Francis is about to be sold as surplus. Pete rushes to the train station, but before he can board, nurse Betsy Donevan mistakes him for her shell-shocked brother, Navy boatswain Slicker Donevan. She tries to forcibly remove his uniform so he will not get into trouble for impersonating an Army officer. Finally she realizes that Pete is not Slicker but merely his mirror image.

Directors
Arthur Lubin
Characters
David Stern
Editors
Ray Snyder

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Donald O'Connor

    Donald O'Connor

    Peter Stirling

  2. Martha Hyer

    Martha Hyer

    Betsy Donevan

  3. Richard Erdman

    Richard Erdman

    Murph

  4. Jim Backus

    Jim Backus

    Commander Hutch

  5. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood

    Jonesey

  6. David Janssen

    David Janssen

    Lieutenant Anders

  7. Leigh Snowden

    Leigh Snowden

    Nurse Appleby

  8. Martin Milner

    Martin Milner

    W.T. Rickson

  9. Paul Burke

    Paul Burke

    Tate

Reviews1

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r96sk Avatar

r96sk

Jan 4, 2022

5/10

Just so sleepy at this point. Even for 1955, 'Francis in the Navy' being the sixth 'Francis' film since 1950 must've been boring as heck. Not that it's a new development, because they arguably all are, but these really are a tedious watch at this point. Francis is again, oddly, in the background. Despite one more production in 1956, Donald O'Connor decided this was the time to bow out of the series. He does so in relative style, given he portrays two characters - albeit to lame effect, for what it's worth. Clint Eastwood is the pick of the support cast, if only due to who he has since become. He is a little wooden, in what is his first credited role. I'm actually minorly intrigued to check out 'Francis in the Haunted House' due to somewhat of a mass exodus, with O'Connor, director Arthur Lubin and Francis voice actor Chill Wills all not appearing. Could it be a slight breath of fresh air? I'm leaning the other way, but we'll see.

Media

  • Francis in the Navy backdrop

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
horsesequelmulepsychotronic film