| Director | Arthur Lubin |
|---|---|
| Genre | film based on literature |
| Runtime | 91 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $622,000 |
| Box office | $2.9 million |
A bank manager speaks with teller Peter Stirling, who has been attracting public attention, and Stirling relates his story in a flashback.
Stirling, a second lieutenant, is caught behind Japanese lines in Burma during World War II. A talking Army mule named Francis carries him to safety. Stirling later insists that the mule had rescued him, so he is placed in a psychiatric ward. Francis helps Stirling thwart enemy plans twice, and each time Stirling is returned to the psychiatric ward when he insists on crediting Francis. In an effort to obtain his release, Stirling asks three-star general Stevens to order Francis to speak, but Francis does not obey until it becomes clear that Stirling will be arrested for treason if he remains silent. Stevens is convinced and orders Stirling's release.
During one of his hospital stays, Stirling is befriended by Maureen Gelder, a beautiful French refugee. He grows to trust her and tells her about Francis. Later, a propaganda radio broadcast from Tokyo Rose mocks the Allies for being advised by a mule, leading to the suspicion that Stirling or Gelder is a Japanese agent. The press is later informed that the absurd mule story was concocted to identify the spy. With help from Francis, the real culprit is identified as Gelder.
Francis is shipped to the U.S. for further study, but his military transport crashes in the wilderness of Kentucky. Stirling searches for him after the war and finds him alive and well.