review for Francis Goes to the Races on AllMovie

Francis Goes to the Races, the second in the popular Francis the Talking Mule series of comedies, is an amusing enough entry. As was the case with the later TV series, Mr. Ed, the premise is one that can get played our rather quickly; after all, how many jokes can you get out of the fact that a mule can talk before the law of diminishing returns sets in? Truth to tell, Races is already showing a bit of a strain, but the series is till fresh enough at this point to create the required laughs and smiles. The writers certainly stretch things a bit by bringing in psychoanalysis, and the mule doctor-horse patient sequence is silly enough to be winning. The romantic entanglements are pretty standard, but they don't get in the way of the fun. And, of course, Donald O'Connor and the voice of Chill Wills are around to provide some thoroughly professional performances. Throw in a lovely young Piper Laurie and the always welcome Cecil Kellaway, along with well-paced direction from Arthur Lubin, and the result is fine family entertainment.