Donald O'Connor & Mamie Van Doren in "Francis Joins The Wacs" (1954) -feat. ZaSu Pitts & Chill Wills

Описание: A Pentagon computer reclassifies veterans into new military assignments. Bank employee and former lieutenant Peter "Pete" Sterling (Donald O'Connor) is recalled into the Army. On the train to his assignment at Fort Chase, Pete hears the familiar voice of his pal Francis (Molly & Chill Wills, voice), a mule who talks, but only to him. Then Pete bumps into, and pouring water over, WAC captain Jane Parker (Julie Adams).

Fort Chase is a WAC installation. The Pentagon computer confused Pete's name with "Bunny Sterling," a female camouflage expert. But, the fort's commander, Major Louise Simpson (Lynn Bari) believes Pete is mocking her troops, and commands him to stay long enough to gain respect for them.

Francis spotted Pete on the train and arranged a transfer to Fort Chase in order to help his old pal.

To ready the platoon for the camouflage demonstration ordered by General Ben Kaye (Chill Wills), Jane challenges the troop to an obstacle course, which Pete fails miserably. Jane and Louise put Pete in command of the second battalion, in order to blame its condition on him.

Kaye arrives a day early, and Francis fumes over the fact that Kaye once took credit for the mule's brilliance, and insists that he and Pete teach Kaye a lesson.

Louise blames Pete for stealing her demonstration map. Pete's claim that Francis stole the map lands him in the psychiatric ward, where he spends his time finger-painting. Later, Jane accompanies the doctor and Pete to Francis' stall. The mule refuses to speak in front of the doctor, but then calls Jane "cutie," after which she, too, is finger painting in the psychiatric ward, followed by Louise, who has a similar experience. Jane, with the help of a nurse, Lt. Valerie Humpert (Zasu Pitts), disguises Pete in women's clothing and sneaks him out.

The demonstration begins. Francis impersonates Kaye on a walkie-talkie and feed false commands to the troops, quickly creating chaos. Kaye deduces what has happened and delivers his own false orders to the WACs, but Francis, sensing a trap, creates a smokescreen under which the camouflaged women escape. With only minutes left, while Kaye gloats that there is not a WAC in sight, the women emerge from their hiding places to pass the test. Kaye loses his voice in frustration, allowing Francis to take over the victory oration and praise the women as brave and honorable soldiers. Pete receives adulation from the WACs, while Kaye spends his time finger-painting in the psychiatric hospital.

A 1954 American Black & White screwball comedy film, directed by Arthur Lubin, produced by Ted Richmond, written by Devery Freeman and James B. Allardice, based on the story "Mr WAC" by Herbert Baker, characters by David Stern, cinematography Irving Glassberg, starring Donald O'Connor, Julie Adams, Mamie Van Doren, ZaSu Pitts, Lynn Bari, Joan Shawlee, Mara Corday, Karen Kadler, Elsie Holmes, and Chill Wills in two roles, including that of the distinctive voice of Francis in voice-over. Screen debut appearance of Allison Hayes.

The fifth of six films in Universal-International's Francis the Talking Mule series. Leonard Goldstein did not return as producer, being replaced by Ted Richmond. The film outgrossed the second, third and fourth in the Francis series.

ZaSu Pitts appears as Lieutenant Valerie Humpert. Pitts played the same character in the first film of the series.

Mamie Van Doren said she didn't want to be in the film but she was contracted to Universal and had to do it. Clint Eastwood was a friend of hers and when he found out she was in it, he asked her to help him get a part. She told him "God, why are you trying to get into that movie? I'm trying to get out of it." She said the only reason anyone starred in them was because they were forced to do it. Eastwood would appear in the next movie in the series, "Francis in the Navy" (1955).

Arthur Lubin directed of all six of the O'Connor featured Francis films. Lubin would go on to direct and produce the rather similar syndicated TV series, "Mister Ed" (1961-66). Lubin had an affinity for animals, both four-legged and human. He helmed "Rhubarb" (1951) about a baseball-loving feline, and directed a feral Gale Sondergaard in "The Spider Woman Strikes Back" (1946).

Soundtrack music:
"I Want to Enlist in the WACS" - Music by Britt Wood and George Beatty, Lyrics by Britt Wood, George Beatty and Frederick Herbert, Sung by Chill Wills
"She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" - Traditional, Performed by Donald O'Connor and Mamie Van Doren
"Song of the Women's Army Corps" - Written by Camilla Mays Frank and Jane Douglass, Sung by chorus behind credits

A tall tale about a loquacious donkey, and hilarious battle of the sexes, in a war game farce. The reason why this entry is guaranteed permanent cult status is for being possibly the ultimate showcase of 50s cheesecake with Julie Adams, Mamie Van Doren, Lynn Bari, Joan Shawlee, Allison Hayes, and Mara Corday. It’s like a patriotic pinup calendar come to life!