My Pal Trigger

In this film, Roy Rogers is trying to get a grouchy guy, Gabby Kendrick (Gabby Hayes), to provide stud services for Roy's horse. Hmmmm....let me rephrase that. Roy is trying to breed his horse with Gabby's horse. But Gabby won't hear of it and is a total jerk.

Later, someone kills Gabby's prize horse and Roy is blamed for it. He didn't do it, of course, and it's pretty obvious that Scoville (Jack Holt) is behind it. But no one knows this until the end of the film--and in the meantime, Roy is forced, for some time, to hide from the law. Naturally, by the end of the film everything has worked out--and Roy has his new prize horsie, Trigger.

This is a rather amiable Roy Rogers film. While the songs are completely ordinary, the plot is different and enjoyable. Not exactly deep or lasting entertainment but pretty nice stuff to pass the time.

When Roy is mistakenly accused of killing Gabby Hayes' prize winning stallion, he takes his mare on the run where she gives birth to Rogers' iconic horse Trigger, returning a few years later to make things right.

My Pal Trigger is a well-written, satisfying outdoor adventure that really knows how to manipulate the emotions of it's targeted audience. I neither like nor use the terms "oat opera" or "horse opera", but if ever there was a film that deserved those titles, then this one is it!

A great cast includes nearly all of Rodgers' best known (and best loved) co-stars, Gabby Hayes, Dale Evans, Bob Nolan, and The Sons Of The Pioneers, not to mention fine character actor Jack Holt.

This is the quintessential Roy Rogers western and a good place to start if you're wondering what all the fuss was about some sixty-plus years ago.

Appealing Rogers oater. It's not so much a typical cowboy movie as a horse show. The plot's more complex than usual; plus, fans looking for gunplay and fisticuffs may be disappointed. Instead, Roy needs to clear himself from the belief that he shot Trigger's father Golden Stallion. Actually, it was scheming gambler Scoville (Holt) who's looking to gyp ranch owner Kendrick (Hayes) out of his land. Trouble is Kendrick thinks Roy is the horse killer and won't help him, even though daughter Susan (Evans) is drawn to Roy.

Gabby's his usual grouchy self, much of it atypically aimed at Roy. In fact, his Kendrick is not very likable through much of the movie. High points include some awesome mountain scenery, a scary cougar, and some well-done horse action. Also Roy, Dale, and 'Pioneers take turns crooning several lovely standards. All in all, it's a more easy-going hour-plus than the usual. I'm just sorry to say they don't make 'em like this anymore.

A "7" on the Matinée Scale.

Roy Rogers was the epitome of the stylized singing cowboy of the mid 20th century. This movie and others with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are probably better received by those who have an understanding of the real relationship and lifestyles of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans off screen.

Typically the Roy Roger movies and television series were very stylized between black and white morality. This movie breaks the mold to the extent that while at heart, Roy plays an honest cowboy, his solution to being falsely arrested is to become a fugitive from justice. He also forces his way into a barn on private property when his mare goes into foal and fights the owner and ranch hands when they insist that he leaves.

As with most "hero" movies, the truth comes out in the end when Dale Evans becomes to believe in Roy's innocence which is ultimately proved and the bad guys go to jail.

On the surface this movie had Roy's fancy clothes and saddle, pistols and rifles, beautiful horses, cowboy singing, and even a square dance on horseback. By the 1940's, this was one version of the west that the movie companies presented to the public.

As a side note, it is always interesting to reflect upon the style of any movie made just before, during, or after the depression or WII.

King of the Cowboys, Roy Rogers, considered "My Pal Trigger" his personal favorite out of over one hundred films he made during his Hollywood days. It is easy to see why. He, Dale, Gabby, and the Sons of the Pioneers, led by gifted songster Bob Nolan, do the best acting of their careers. Dale, Queen of the Cowgirls, struts her stuff, as Susan Kendrick, showing that she was not only a delightful singer but a dramatic actress as well. Even Gabby plays it straight as Dale's father with an especially touching scene when his favorite palomino, Golden Sovereign, is mistakenly shot and killed. Jack Holt, whose son, Tim, the cowboy star, was a close friend of Roy's and Dale's, plays the bad guy, Brett Scoville, with a touch of kindness, making the character more than a one-dimensional heavy that was usually the case in the B westerns.

Strictly speaking the real stars of the film are the horses, Golden Sovereign, Lady, the wild stallion, and Trigger, another reason why "My Pal Trigger" was dear to Roy's heart. Roy and Dale were sincere animal lovers who cared for their well being. The title, which some critics call as inane as "My Dog Spot," has true meaning for the story being told. To Roy and Dale, horses were pals, as real as any human pal around, a true companion to be counted on in good times and in bad.

The story holds up well. Roy is framed for killing Gabby's Golden Sovereign after Sovereign mates with Roy's mare, Lady, following a confrontation between Golden Sovereign and a wild stallion for Lady's affections. The real culprit, Scoville, who owns the neighboring horse ranch plus a casino in town, covets Gabby's ranch. Scoville through rigged card games collects a huge pile of IOU's from Gabby. Roy becomes a fugitive, taking the colt, Trigger, sired by Golden Sovereign, with him. Trigger's mother, Lady, is killed by a mountain lion, leaving Trigger an orphan in Roy's hands. Roy returns with Trigger and surrenders to the authorities. Trigger is taken by Scoville through red tape maneuvering. The resolution to "My Pal Trigger" is determined by the outcome of a horse race between Gabby's palomino and Scoville's Trigger, ridden by Roy, who has made a deal with Scoville to not only retrieve Trigger but also to get even with Gabby. Along the way Gabby's daughter, Susan (Dale), has fallen in love with Roy and changed from holding Roy responsible for Golden Sovereign's death to believing Roy is not guilty, helping him prove his innocence to get Trigger back.

The music is apropos to the story. Roy and Susan (Dale), when first introduced via Lady inviting Golden Sovereign over to her side of the coral, make a dinner date with Gabby and the rest of the ranch hands. At the dinner, Roy's pal, Bob Nolan, informs those in charge that Roy can sing. Roy is hesitant until Susan (Dale) agrees to join him. They do a rollicking ditty called "Harriet" about her lariat. Shortly after the dinner Roy and Susan fall out with each other over the death of Golden Sovereign; so no more duets. Roy sings a solo in keeping with the image of Lady and later Trigger called "Old Faithful Pal," just before Lady's death. Later Susan accompanies herself on the piano with the sad melody, "Long, Long Ago." Other songs in the film include "Livin' Western Style" and "Alla En El Rancho Grande," performed by the Sons of the Pioneers. The rest of the show is adventure and action.