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IMDbPro

Francis in the Haunted House

  • 19561956
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
345
YOUR RATING
Francis in the Haunted House (1956)
ComedyFamilyFantasy
Francis the Talking Mule witnesses a murder. He takes a bumbling reporter named David Prescott under his wing and the two of them set out to solve the crime.Francis the Talking Mule witnesses a murder. He takes a bumbling reporter named David Prescott under his wing and the two of them set out to solve the crime.Francis the Talking Mule witnesses a murder. He takes a bumbling reporter named David Prescott under his wing and the two of them set out to solve the crime.
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
345
YOUR RATING
    • Charles Lamont
    • Herb Margolis
    • William Raynor
    • David Stern(character)
  • Stars
    • Mickey Rooney
    • Virginia Welles
    • James Flavin
    • Charles Lamont
    • Herb Margolis
    • William Raynor
    • David Stern(character)
  • Stars
    • Mickey Rooney
    • Virginia Welles
    • James Flavin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Mickey Rooney in Francis in the Haunted House (1956)
    Francis in the Haunted House (1956)
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    Top cast

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    Mickey Rooney
    Mickey Rooney
    • David Prescott
    Virginia Welles
    Virginia Welles
    • Lorna MacLeod
    James Flavin
    James Flavin
    • Police Chief Martin
    Paul Cavanagh
    Paul Cavanagh
    • Neil Frazer
    Mary Ellen Kay
    Mary Ellen Kay
    • Lorna Ann
    David Janssen
    David Janssen
    • Police Lieutenant Hopkins
    Ralph Dumke
    Ralph Dumke
    • Mayor Hargrove
    Richard Gaines
    Richard Gaines
    • D.A. Reynolds
    Richard Deacon
    Richard Deacon
    • Jason
    Dick Winslow
    Dick Winslow
    • Sergeant Arnold
    Charles Horvath
    Charles Horvath
    • Malcolm
    Timothy Carey
    Timothy Carey
    • Hugo
    Helen Wallace
    Helen Wallace
    • Mrs. MacPherson
    Edward Earle
    Edward Earle
    • Howard Grisby
    John Maxwell
    John Maxwell
    • Edward Ryan
    Glen Kramer
    • Ephraim Biddle
    Molly
    Molly
    • Francis
    • (as Francis the Talking Mule)
    Helen Bennett
    • Mrs. Hargrove
    • (uncredited)
      • Charles Lamont
      • Herb Margolis
      • William Raynor
      • David Stern(character)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This last film in the popular "Francis" series marked two major changes: Mickey Rooney replaced Donald O'Connor and Paul Frees replaced Chill Wills as the voice of Francis.
    • Connections
      Featured in Svengoolie: Francis in the Haunted House (2012)

    User reviews8

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Not great, but kids will love it
    Mickey Rooney was the first actor considered to play the human sidekick of Francis the talking mule, but the role went instead to his friend Donald O'Connor. Six years and six mule movies later, O'Connor decided to move on to greener pastures, and workhorse Rooney was brought in to close out the series.

    This movie -- without O'Connor and without Chill Wills doing the mule's voice -- gets no respect from critics and die-hard "Francis" fans. Admittedly it's not as funny as the early "Francis" films, but Rooney and Paul Frees (as the voice) give it their all, and the movie is perfect for children.

    The fact is that the "Francis" series was running out of steam already. Winding it up with another military comedy would have been the coward's way out. This movie is more like a harbinger of the "Scooby-do" cartoons: Cops and robbers and alleged ghosts in a completely non-threatening environment. No adult content to trouble parents.

    Could it be better? Yes. But it fills a certain niche very well.
    helpful•14
    0
    • gerdeen-1
    • Aug 26, 2010

    Details

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    • Release date
      • July 9, 1956 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 20 minutes
      • Black and White

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