FRANCIS COVERS THE BIG TOWN (1953)

I’m beginning to suspect that there is pretty much zero continuity between the Francis films. At the end of the last movie, Francis and Peter parted ways (yet again) but in this film they’re living together while Peter works as a copyboy in a large newspaper office. Soon though, Peter is promoted to a full-blown reporter thanks to the endless scoops that Francis gets for Peter by talking to various horses and mules around New York. It’s not all sunshine and carrot-flavored carrots though, no siree bob. You gotta remember (I guess there is some continuity after all!) that Peter is an idiot. So, while working on a story about a “protection racket”, his dumbass gets framed and arrested for murder!

Out of the series so far, FRANCIS COVERS THE BIG TOWN is the most enjoyable and best constructed. It even had a scene of Francis and Peter walking down a crowded street together. That was cool, I really enjoyed that. (I think it was West 46th St, but never been there. So just guessing.) Good pace, a few goofy jokes that made me roll my handsome eyeballs, theater marquee ads for SATURDAY’S HERO, HERE COMES THE GROOM, THE WELL and QUO VADIS, a brief John Qualen sighting.

I have more to say, but too depressed to think. In short, Francis 4 is a fun addition to the series and worth checking out for those curious.

Part 1 - Francis (1950)
Part 2 - Francis Goes to the Races (1951)
Part 3 - Francis Goes to West Point (1952)
Part 5 - Francis Joins the WACS (1954)
Part 6 - Francis in the Navy (1955)
Part 7 - Francis in the Haunted House (1956)