Movie – Francis # 2 – “Francis Goes to the Races” (1951) **1/2

This has an advantage in that Francis’ relationship with Donald O’Connor is established from the get-go and its a bright idea that Francis gives his mate the inside dope on horse racing. So it’s a bit disappointing the film follows the they-think-he’s-mad-then-Francis-speaks-so-they-don’t structure of the previous film. The romance subplot with Piper Laurie is also undeveloped. 

Cecil Kellaway pops up in support and I was delighted to hear his Aussie twang in bits. There’s a great scene when Francis gets drunk and where he has an argument with O’Connor – this is comedy gold and better than people thinking O’Connor is mad.