Francis in the Navy
“That talking mule is back... and the Navy's got him!”
Synopsis
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.
Part of the Francis the Talking Mule Collection
Stream the entire interconnected saga and experience every installment in chronological storyline order.
Top Cast
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Donald O'Connor
Peter Stirling / Slicker Donevan
Martha Hyer
Betsy Donevan
Richard Erdman
Murph
Jim Backus
Commander Hutch
Clint Eastwood
Jonesey
David Janssen
Lieutenant Anders
Leigh Snowden
Appleby
Martin Milner
Rick
Paul Burke
Tate
Phil Garris
Tony
Myrna Hansen
Helen
Jane Howard
Standish
Virginia O'Brien
Miss Kittredge
William Forrest
Admiral
Chill Wills
Francis (voice) (uncredited)
Frank Chase
Yeoman (uncredited)
Carl Switzer
Timekeeper (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
August 24, 1955
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Arthur Lubin
- Screenplay & Story
- Devery Freeman
- Original Title
- Francis in the Navy
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 20m
- Production Studios
- Universal International Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Arthur Lubin
Devery Freeman, David Stern
Carl E. Guthrie
Milton Carruth, Ray Snyder
Stanley Rubin
Department Leadership Roster
Arthur Lubin
Director
Devery Freeman
Screenplay
Milton Carruth
Editor
Ray Snyder
Editor
Stanley Rubin
Producer
Carl E. Guthrie
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Francis in the Navy.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Francis in the Navy.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Francis in the Navy
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Francis in the Navy about?
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.
Who directed Francis in the Navy?
Francis in the Navy was directed by Arthur Lubin.
Who stars in Francis in the Navy?
The principal cast of Francis in the Navy includes Donald O'Connor, Martha Hyer, Richard Erdman, Jim Backus, Clint Eastwood.
When was Francis in the Navy released and how long is it?
Francis in the Navy was released in 1955 with a total runtime of 1h 20m.
Is Francis in the Navy based on a book or true story?
Francis in the Navy is adapted from the following source material: Characters: "David Stern".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Francis in the Navy?
Francis in the Navy holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).