My Pal Trigger

My Pal Trigger is a 1946 American western musical film directed by Frank McDonald. The screenplay by Jack Townley and John K. Butler was based upon a story by Paul Gangelin. The film stars Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, George “Gabby” Hayes, Jack Holt, and Trigger in a story about the origin of Rogers's mount, and their deep and faithful bond. The film features several musical numbers for Rogers, Evans, and Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Plot

Roy Rogers, a horse dealer and a peddler of leather goods, is hoping to mate his mare named "Lady" with Golden Sovereign, a stallion owned by rancher Gabby Kendrick. Kendrick refuses, preferring to mate the stallion with his own stock. Brett Scoville, a wealthy rancher and nightclub owner, wants to mate the stallion with his mare as well, and, to that end, steals the stallion. Golden Sovereign breaks free, finds Lady, and has a romantic interlude with her in the hills.

A search is raised to find Golden Sovereign, but Scoville accidentally shoots and kills the horse when Golden Sovereign is attacked a wild stallion. Roy arrives on the scene and chases Scoville off with a bullet but cannot later identify him as the killer. To all appearances, it looks like Roy is responsible for the death of Golden Sovereign, and he is arrested. He jumps bail, and takes off on Lady. Months later, Lady gives birth to Golden Sovereign's son. Roy names him Trigger and, in time, the horse becomes his mount.

Roy returns to the Golden Horse Ranch to present Trigger as a gift to Kendrick. The gift is declined, and Roy is jailed as a fugitive from justice. Trigger is auctioned to pay Roy's debts. Scoville acquires the horse and, when the case against Roy is dropped, hires him to train Trigger.

A year later, Scoville and Susan Kendrick enter their horses in a race at the State Fair. Roy is riding Scoville's Trigger in the race, and Scoville promises him ownership of the horse should he win the race. Roy is reluctant to race after learning Scoville killed Golden Sovereign. However, Roy races and aids Susan when Scoville's men hold her horse in a pocket on the track. Susan wins the race on Golden Empress, and, consequently, Roy loses possession of Trigger. Later, Scoville is arrested for killing Golden Sovereign, and, Roy finally comes into possession of Trigger through Kendrick. Eventually, Roy is employed at the Kendrick ranch, and Trigger becomes the father of twin sons born to Susan's Golden Empress.

Cast

• Roy Rogers as Roy Rogers, a horse dealer and peddler of leather goods
• Trigger as Trigger, the son of Kendrick’s Golden Sovereign and Roy’s Lady
• George Hayes as Gabby Kendrick, owner of the Golden Horse Ranch and Golden Sovereign, a stallion
• Dale Evans as Susan Kendrick, his daughter
• Bob Nolan as Bob, a Kendrick ranch hand
• Sons of the Pioneers as musicians and Kendrick ranch hands
• Jack Holt as Brett Scoville, a wealthy rancher, horse breeder, and owner of the El Dorado casino and nightclub
• LeRoy Mason as Carson, Scoville’s henchman
• Roy Barcroft as Hunter, Scoville’s henchman
• Kenne Duncan as a croupier at Scoville’s nightclub
• Sam Flint as the Sheriff of El Dorado County
• Ralph Sanford as Al, an auctioneer
• Francis McDonald as Pete, a storekeeper
• Harlan Briggs as Dr. Bentley, a veterinarian
• William Haade as Davis

Music

• “She’s Havin’ Too Much Fun” (sung by Rogers and Evans)
• “Old Faithful” (sung by Rogers)

External links

• My Pal Trigger at the Internet Movie Database
• My Pal Trigger is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]