Francis Goes to the Races (1951): cast, story & where to watch
1951 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1951, Francis Goes to the Races is a comedy, fantasy and family film directed by Arthur Lubin, running about 88 minutes. “A Riot of Laughs when Francis Talks to Horses - and gets the Winner of every Race!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In this funny sequel to the popular Francis the Talking Mule, the talkative Mule and his pal Peter get a job working on a horse-breeder's ranch. They end up saving it from financial ruin when Francis, who has the inside track with the racehorses, provides Peter with names of the winners before the races are run. Sure enough Peter finds himself with a fistful of cash and uses it to buy a racehorse for the farm. Unfortunately, the horse he chooses is suffering from a debilitating lack of confidence. When not dealing with the mare, Peter finds time to court the horse breeder's niece and trying to avoid the gangsters who want in on the winnings.
Who’s in it. Francis Goes to the Races stars Donald O'Connor as Peter Stirling, Piper Laurie as Frances Travers, Cecil Kellaway as Colonel Travers and Barry Kelley as Roy Square Deal Mallory, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, Francis Goes to the Races has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Francis Goes to the Races page.
If you liked it. Fans of Francis Goes to the Races tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Francis Goes to the Races (1951)?
- In US, Francis Goes to the Races is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Francis Goes to the Races worth watching?
- Francis Goes to the Races holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, fantasy and family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Francis Goes to the Races?
- Francis Goes to the Races stars Donald O'Connor, Piper Laurie, Cecil Kellaway, Barry Kelley and Jesse White.
- When was Francis Goes to the Races released?
- Francis Goes to the Races was released in 1951, with a runtime of about 88 minutes.