Francis (1950)

Set during WWII, a young American officer (Donald O'Connor) serving in Burma encounters a mule called Francis (Chill Wills) who can talk. But whenever he attempts to convince his superiors that the mule can talk, he's sent to the psychiatric unit. Based on the novel by David Stern (who adapted his novel for the screen) and directed by Arthur Lubin (FOOTSTEPS IN THE FOG). The first of the Francis the talking mule movies which grew into a seven movie franchise, all starring Donald O'Connor except the final entry (FRANCIS IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE) where he was replaced by Mickey Rooney. This first entry is mildly amusing and to its credit, its one joke premise doesn't get tiring though it did with each following movie. The public made it a huge hit (it had a modest budget) hence the sequels. An inspiration for the MISTER ED talking horse TV series. Wit Patricia Medina, Tony Curtis, John McIntire, Ray Collins, Eduard Franz and Frank Faylen.