Maureen Gelder Chill Wills as Francis the talking mule ZaSu Pitts as Nurse Valerie Humpert Ray Collins as Colonel Hooker John McIntire as General Stevens (as John McIntyre) Eduard Franz as Colonel Plepper Howland Chamberlain as Major Nadel James Todd as Colonel Saunders Robert Warwick as Colonel Carmichael Frank Faylen as Sergeant Chillingbacker Tony Curtis as Captain Jones (as Anthony Curtis) Mikel Conrad as Major Garber Loren Tindell as Major Richards Charles Meredith as Munroe, the banker Production Development Lubin became attached to the film in March 1948. He was attracted to the light material because "as a movie fan myself, I am tired of watching neurotic material on the screen. I can easily skip the latest psychiatric spell binders, but I've seen Miracle on 34th Street a half dozen times." In September 1948 it was announced Robert Stillman, Joseph H. Nadel, and Arthur Lubin had purchased the film rights from David Stern; Sillman would produce and Lubin would direct. (Lubin said he a friend who worked at a literary agency recommended the book to him.) Lubin took the film to Universal who were originally not interested. However their story editor, who later became an assistant to Harold Robbins was interested, especially as Universal had a commitment to Donald O'Connor for $30,000 and were looking to make something cheap. The studio advanced Lubin $10,000 as a test to see if he could make the mule talk. The test proved to be successful and Universal agreed to make the film. They set up the production at Universal where it was turned into a starring vehicle for Donald O'Connor. Lubin worked on the script with Stern. Dorothy Davenport Reid (widow of silent film star Wallace Reid) worked on the script. Lubin said it was the first time that he had a financial interest in any film he had made: Directing Francis gave me a new slant on picture making after some years of acting and producing in both New York and Hollywood. I love Francis, first because it's good entertainment, and secondly because I own a bit of that ornery mule. Apparently Universal records say Lubin was paid a flat fee of $25,000. Shooting Filming started 7 May 1949 and continued through to June. Parts of the film were shot at the now defunct Conejo Valley Airport in Thousand Oaks, CA. Before its release in the U. S., Francis was first shown