The Adventures of Francis the Talking Mule, Vol. 1 (Francis the Talking Mule / Francis Goes to the Races / Francis Goes to West Point / Francis Covers the Big Town)

delightful old movies

These movies are great! Really just good clean fun, a lot of the gags are from times past, but still pretty funny. Donald O'Connor is very funny, he plays a great straight man for the mule, being funny without trying to. I met Donald O'Connor when I was in the 8th grade when he stopped in our small town on his way to Lake Tahoe to do his act in one of the casinos there. Me and my friend talked with him for about 10 minutes and got his autograph, (which I still have), and what an absolutely nice person. He told us about the Francis movies and what they did to make the mule move his mouth and head so it looked like he was actually talking. He never acted like we were putting him out, he treated us great. The plots are so simple, but it's always about how people react to him saying the mule can talk, but of course the mule will only talk to him, so they always want to send him to the psycho ward because they think he's nuts. Good clean fun!!

Films 1 and 4 are the best, and 2 and 3 a bit repetitive for the gags. The whole series is not released in one pack, as it shows already it was difficult to renew the situations and stories. Missing are "Francis joins the WACS" and "Francis in the Navy". Donald O'Connor having left the series, the last one is with Mickey Rooney "Francis in the Haunted House". Universal should have not respected the series order and put First and Last of the series with the two more different stories in between. Here is just an uncomplete series. For the price I am satisfied, but not for the unfinished series.

Dear Lord, these movies are silly. But they are fun to watch. Francis is a jackass in more ways than one and gets his buddy, Peter, into jam after jam. And, of course, into the psycho-ward. Let's face it, they got as much mileage out of these movies as they could, nearly killing Donald O'Connor from mule-bourne Q-fever and his career in the process. It's too bad they couldn't have given him something more to work with (did they forget he could sing and dance?) but these movies were made on the cheap and were just meant to give people a chuckle. The original Francis movie was the best send-up of army life and closely resembles the book on which it was based. That's right, believe it or not, this was based on a book. I don't think many second lieutenants probably thought it was all that funny (my dad included), but I got a kick out of the misguided psychiatric attempts to "diagnose" Peter's talking mule delusions each time. The movies are mindless fun and you can't help feeling sympathy for innocent Peter who is just too loyal and simple to stay away from Francis and his schemes. Maybe he did belong in the psycho-ward weaving baskets all day....

I loved the Francis Movies - the before Mr. Ed of the movies. Francis was a wise-cracking, know it all mule, with the voice of the great Chill Wills. Donald O'Connell was Francis' sidekick and they had simply FUN adventures. Most are seldom, if ever seen in the last couple of decades, so this will be a great trip for those who remember them and a chance for children and grandchildren to discover them.Volume 1 - is for full-length movies1. Francis the Talking Mule2. Francis goes to the Races3. Francis goes to West Point (with William Reynolds and small part by Leonard Nemoy)4. Francis Cover the Big TownThey are Black and White - for those unfamiliar with the Francis movies, though later ones were in colour.So pop the popcorn, kick back and let the whole family have a wee giggle at Wills and O'Connell's antics.

Pardon me for being a little mulish about these movies. I shouldn't have liked them. The whole concept of a mule talking and being wiser than humans is absurd. Still, it's hard not to be intrigued and amused, unless one is so aesthetic that only Bergman films entertain.Chill Wills somehow had the perfect voice for Francis, and Donald O'Connor was excellent as the innocent foil. O'Connor was a man of real talent, a singer and hoofer (couldn't resist that) on his own.I first saw a few of the Francis movies decades ago and liked them. I still do, despite myself.

I remember seeing these movies when I was growing up in the sixties. I really thought that Francis could talk (I was Six or Seven). I could not wait for these movies to be on TV again. WELL, as I grew up I never saw Francis again. Then my wife was on Amazon one day and told me about these movies, I looked it up and sure enough these were the same movies I watched growing up. I purchased the DVD and when I received it I immediately made popcorn for the whole family and we sat and watched the whole DVD. My Four(4) kids love it. I'll always have a place in my heart for "Francis the talking mule". And now, so will my kids.

Great Fun! Great DVD! You will Absolutely LOVE Francis! Chill Wills who provides this sassy mule his voice did a fantastic acting job, the voice fits the personality of Francis perfectly and Francis does a fair acting job as well, some of the tricks he does are hysterical. You start to believe he really can talk! Be Sure to see All the Francis movies, they are all good. This DVD only has 4 but there are supposedly 7 movies, 6 with Donald O'Connor and the last with Mickey Rooney! Great Fun Clean Family Entertainment!

Just hearing the voice of Chill Wills as Francis is enough to make me smile. They may be B-movies, but they have retained a charm that many of their contemporaries lost long ago. It's not Donald O'Connor's best work either (he apparently did not embark on playing second string to a mule with any great enthusiasm) but his performances remain enjoyable. The first (Francis) with ZaSu Pitts as the psychiatric nurse in the hospital in Burma starts things off well. The next three (which are set in the US after Francis' rather improbable return to terra firma after being a hero at the war) all have their good points and together these first four movies in the Francis series are probably the best of the bunch.

Years ago when I was a young Lad, I saw my first Francis Film, Donald O'Connor was terrific with Francis, not only this Film but! all the Francis Films were so good to watch as children, it was good clean fun, and so funny at times.I would recommend to any youngster, it's a great story. This kind of Film with such a good Actor is always worth watching.It's nice these days Films like this can still be found, and sold!John

Finding this gem on DVD really brings back my childhood memories I shared with my grandparents and my parents. I then shared this series on VHS when my own children were little. To find it on DVD and give it to them, as they are now young adults, brought smiles and good memories for them. Miss the simple things! Onto Ma and Pa Kettle now!

Friend who I ordered it for is thrilled with the old memories it invokes. watches it over and over.

Purchased for an elderly gentleman friend.He is very pleased with it.Perfect condition .Recommend product.