Under California Stars

Roy Rogers finishes his latest picture. He and Trigger head to their ranch to discover that Andy Devine has hired a lot of new hands, all of whom look like him, because they're cousins: all except the new horse trainer, Jane Frazee. But such pleasantries are discarded when some men who have been rounding up and butchering wild horses on his land. Roy stops them, and they decide that it will be much more profitable to kidnap Trigger and hold him for ransom. Roy is willing to pay, but then they start killing people....

Roy moves into color productions with this one; the print I looked at was not in great shape, obscuring Jack Marta's usual fine compositions and scenery shots. Wade Crosby makes a fine mean villain, and George Lloyd an interesting conflicted one. Roy, the Sons of the Pioneer, Andy, and Miss Frazee get some nice singing in as usual, and we get to see Roy ride another, uncredited horse. Although the story seems a little sketchy at times -- perhaps it had to be edited a touch more tightly than usual -- there are the usual nice stunt touches to keep the audience happy.

Roy rogers plays himself in this western.(not too much of a stretch,i guess).i guess it's movie,but it felt more like an episode of a TV show to me.as far entertainment goes,this feature is moderately entertaining.there's a bit of singing by Roy,and by The sons of The Pioneers(of which Roy Rogers was an early member),a popular singing group of the era.i actually like the singing.the best actor of the bunch,in my opinion was Andy Devine as Cookie Bullfincher.he was the comic relief of the movie,and specialized in playing comedic characters.the movie itself was not quite in the awful range,but just above mediocre.for me,Under California Stars is a 4.5/10

This film has about the same visual appeal as My Friend Flicka,

with it's brilliantly colorful Trucolor camerawork. The color

enhances greatly a film that is still mostly enjoyable. Though

highly dated, at times it's even suspenseful and get pretty exciting

towards the end, when Roy Rogers and his friends go to rescue

Trigger, who is billed as the smartest horse in pictures, and who

comes across as just that. Roy is charismatic and does all the

singing and horse wrangling like a pro, why shouldn't he?, and the

rest of the cast lend decent performances. Michael Chapin is

probably the best of the cast, after Roy, making his role as the

token star-struck kid seem not too predictable. Jane Frazee, on

the other hand, comes across as one of the dumbest leading

ladies ever. So, it's amusing and squeaky clean entertainment for

all the ages, but nothing superb. But then, it really wasn't

supposed to be.

Roy leaves Hollywood for his ranch where he will be broadcasting a spectacle commemorating his tenth year in motion pictures as joins his helper Andy Devine in a search of the thieves who kidnapped Trigger . As the newspapers publicize ¨Trigger stolen¨, ¨Trigger kidnapped¨. As Rancher Roy and his pals track down a bunch who have stolen Trigger and are holding him for $100,000 ransom . The movie contains action Western ,songs, adventures, shoot-outs, fighting and is quite entertaining . Swinging From His Toes And Shooting From His Hips...Roy Battles His Foes With A Song On His Lips! . Roy Rogers and Andy Devine team up again in the habitual thin story , but filled with riding stunts and noisy action . It deals with Roy Rogers turned Hollywood star who has just finished his latest picture as he goes back his ranch in California . When Roy and Trigger arrive in his ranch he meets Cookie (Andy Devine) has contracted his relatives (also played by the likable Andy Devine) and Caroline (Jane Frazee , Dale Evens this time doesn't appear) . Bob tells Roy a band of men are chasing range horses . Pop (Lloyd) and Mcfarland (Wade Crosby) decide there's money in abducting Trigger and demand a ransom . McFarland's stepson, named Ted Carver (the little boy well performed by Michael Chapin) , and his dog Tramp, run away and is found hiding in Roy's barn to investigate strange events about the Trigger abduct . Later on, with the help of Devine and other partners , Roy aware that the band is formed by Pop Jordan and McFarland have kidnapped the smarter horse and they set out in pursuit accompanied by the dog Tramp that lead them to the barn .

This B movie displays sensational adventures , intrigue, fights , lots of fun and is pretty enjoyable . This average-budget Western blends action , hokey fun ,humor , suspense and emotional happenings .The highlights of the movie are the amazing race between Trigger and a sympathetic dog called Tramp ; plus the spectacular rescue by Rogers and his boys . Our heroes incarnated by a throughly believable casting of the usual characters undergo numerous adventures and suffering innumerable perils . Surprise-filled entertainment and plenty of action on middle scale . The exterior scenes , gun-play , fights , brawls, , all of them are lightly spectacular and the film is another ordinary Hollywood product but of B-series. Memorable and great cast as Roy Rogers stars the famous singer cowboy , he played in various musical groups ,in 1934 he formed a group called ¨Sons of Pioneers¨ , they appeared in numerous Westerns (Rhythm on the range, Son of the pioneers , On the Spanish trail , among others). Roy was married three times . Arlene Wilkins , his second wife, died a few day after giving birth to their son ,¨Roy Rogers Jr or Dusty¨ and Dale Evans his third spouse , became his four children's mom . Inducted along with his wife Evans into the Hall of great Western performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and also as member of the Sons of Pioneers . Their nicknames were ,Roy as ¨King of cowboys¨ , Dale Evans ¨Queen of the West¨ and Trigger ¨ Smartest horse in the movies¨ . Roy got his horse ¨Trigger¨in 1938 and rode him in every one of his film and TV shows after that. He had appeared in one early movie , being ridden by Olivia De Havilland in ¨¨ The adventures of Robin Hood¨. Trigged died in 1965,aged 33 years.

¨Under California stars¨ includes several songs , played by ¨Son of Pioneers¨ and the actors as Rogers and Devine . Colorful cinematography in Trucolor , though photography is washed-out , reflecting wonderfully landscapes from Chatsworth Park , Los Angeles , California . This ancient movie is professionally directed by William Witney , a craftsman who directed 140 titles from the 30s . The film is produced by Republic picture, usual in serials of low budget . The director , William Witney ,was a prolific director of short budget and TV episodes ( Daniel Boone , Bonanza ,Virginian ) , his best film was ¨The master of world¨ with Vincent Price . The motion picture will appeal to Western buffs and it's a marvelous popcorn story .

Roy Rogers is a popular movie cowboy / rancher, celebrating his 10th Anniversary in pictures - with the assistance of helping hands Andy Devine (as "Cookie"), Bob Nolan, the Sons of the Pioneers, and Cookie's cousin Jane Frazee (as Caroline). Mr. Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers are in particularly fine voice for this "10th Anniversary" movie.

Michael Chapin (as Ted) plays a Roy Rogers fan who is taken in by the star; the boy witnesses the film's major plot development - the kidnapping of Trigger. There are several dramatic moments; but, these do not mix well with the light atmosphere of celebration and song-writing. Trigger and young Mr. Chapin are very appealing in "Under California Skies"; not surprisingly, they steal the show. A dramatic western with Chapin and Trigger (and/or Tramp) would have been a welcome feature from the studio.

**** Under California Skies (4/30/48) William Witney ~ Roy Rogers, Michael Chapin, Andy Devine, Jane Frazee