A news item in the 16 Jun 1959 DV announced that Artys Pictures, an independent production company established by brothers Plato A. Skouras, Charles P. Skouras, and Spyros P. Skouras, had optioned screen rights to Louis De Wohl’s 1958 novel about Saint Francis of Assisi, titled The Joyful Beggar. The film project was briefly known by that name before it was changed to Francis of Assisi, as stated in the 27 Jul 1960 Var. Eugene Vale was hired to adapt the script. He later collaborated with Jack Thomas, as indicated in an 8 Jan 1961 NYT article, which stated that British writer James Forsyth delivered the final polish.
       Singer Peggy Lee sought the role of “Clare Scefi” before Dolores Hart was cast; additionally, Robert Vaughn was tested for the title role of “Francis Bernardone,” as noted in the 2 Jun 1960 and 26 Jul 1960 issues of LAT. Filming was scheduled to take place entirely in Italy, where location shooting was set for the town of Assisi and surrounding areas in the Umbria region, and in Rome, where director Michael Curtiz hoped to shoot in Vatican City. The 6 May 1960 DV indicated that Curtiz would “confer with Vatican officials” to gain access.
       A production chart in the 18 Nov 1960 DV reported that principal photography began on 28 Oct 1960. Italian locations included the papal apartment at the Basilica of San Francesco, in Assisi, which stood in for the Lateran Palace of Rome. A 30 Nov 1960 Var article noted that valuable props “such as several 13th and 14th century crosses and a number of very rare antiphonary of the 15th century, bound in pigskin and with beautifully illuminated letters,” were loaned to the production by the monks at Basilica of San Francesco. Production moved to Rome by early Jan 1961. There, rain “washed out a big battle sequence,” according to the 3 Jan 1961 DV. Producer Plato E. Skouras made tentative plans to re-shoot the battle in Utah, although the only re-shoots mentioned in later sources took place in mid-Mar 1961 at Twentieth Century-Fox’s studio lot in Los Angeles, CA, as stated in the 16 Mar 1961 DV. Some additional European filming may have taken place in Spain.
       The 6 May 1960 DV listed Triton Corp. as the production company, but Perseus Productions was later credited along with Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. A budget of $2.8-$4 million was cited in various contemporary sources published around the time of filming; however, an article in the 17 May 1961 DV noted that Skouras had since denied reports of a $3 million budget, insisting that the film cost only $1.9 million. The 15 Feb 1961 Var identified Fred Hift as publicity coordinator. Previously, on 22 Sep 1960, a DV item claimed that Bradford Dillman would record vocals for two original songs with a “13th century flavor,” written by Ken Darby for the film. The 25 Jan 1961 Var later reported that Francis of Assisi’s soundtrack would be the first to feature Gregorian chant music.
       The completed picture made its world premiere on 12 Jul 1961 in San Francisco, CA. A benefit premiere in Los Angeles, CA, took place the following week, on 19 Jul 1961. On the eve of the event, DV speculated that it would raise $15,000 for its intended charity, a convalescent hospital run by the Sisters of the Poor in San Fernando Valley. Several months later, Skouras hosted the Italian premiere in Assisi on 4 Oct 1961, as stated in that day’s Var.
       Following tepid critical reception, ticket sales were underwhelming. A box-office earnings chart in the 10 Jan 1962 Var listed domestic film rentals of $920,000, to date, and projected that the eventual cumulative gross would be around $1.8 million. Skouras accused the Catholic church (in the U.S. and abroad) for failing to promote the film, according to a 31 Jan 1962 Var article. In the meantime, a 16 Aug 1961 Var brief noted that Cinemascope had released a short subject film called Hills of Assisi, which did not directly promote the film but featured its title song and narration by Bradford Dillman. The item postulated that the short would either work as a “‘subliminal’ trailer” for Francis of Assisi, or adversely trick patrons into thinking they had already seen the feature.
       Two years after the film was released, Dolores Hart, who played Clare Scefi (a.k.a. Saint Clare of Assisi), left acting to become a nun at the Abbey of Regina Laudis monastery in Connecticut.