Francis in the Haunted House (1956)

Director:

Charles Lamont

Writers:

Herbert H. Margolis, William Raynor,

Stars:

Mickey Rooney, Virginia Welles, James Flavin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mickey Rooney	...	David Prescott
Virginia Welles	...	Lorna MacLeod
James Flavin	...	Police Chief Martin
Paul Cavanagh	...	Neil Frazer
Mary Ellen Kay	...	Lorna Ann
David Janssen	...	Police Lieutenant Hopkins
Ralph Dumke	...	Mayor Hargrove
Richard Gaines	...	D.A. Reynolds
Richard Deacon	...	Jason
Dick Winslow	...	Sergeant Arnold
Timothy Carey	...	Hugo
Helen Wallace	...	Mrs. MacPherson
Charles Horvath	...	Malcolm
Edward Earle	...	Howard Grisby
John Maxwell	...	Edward Ryan

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

mule | police | horse actor | dungeon | talking animal | 

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Taglines:

THE LAFFS ARE SIMPLY KILLING! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Congiura al castello

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

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.

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Connections

Follows Francis Goes to the Races (1951)

User Reviews

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.