Main Cast: Roy Barcroft, Roy Rogers, Al Bridge, Dale Evans, Harlan Briggs, George "Gabby" Hayes, Paul E. Burns, Jack Holt, Kenne Duncan, LeRoy Mason
Release Year: 1946
Country: US
Run Time: 79 minutes
Plot
This gentle, tuneful western is one of cowboy crooner Roy Rogers' best and most successful films; it is also his personal favorite. The fanciful tale tells how Rogers obtained his magnificent horse Trigger and begins with horse trader Rogers as he prepares to breed his best mare with his best friend's glorious Palomino stallion. Trouble comes in the form of a villainous gambler who has similar plans for his own mare. He attempts to rustle the stud, but the attempt fails, the stallion escapes and breeds with Roger's mare. Angrily, the gambler shows up and shoots the beautiful horse, leaving Rogers to shoulder the blame. Fortunately, Roy and his impregnated mare flee. Later she gives birth to Trigger who helps Rogers get revenge after he grows up. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Review
Roy Rogers is among the most enduringly popular of Western movie stars, and My Pal Trigger is an excellent example of him at his gosh-darned most endearing. Seems like Roy (playing himself) wants to breed his mare with a champion stallion, but the owner (Gabby Hayes) won't agree. After a dastardly businessman (Jack Holt) interferes, the stallion is killed and Roy finds himself with a pregnant mare. Of course, Gabby has a pretty daughter (Dale Evans) and there's a big race to win, so Roy has lots of chances to act honorably and be a role model even if, for most of the picture, he is misunderstood by almost everyone. My Pal Trigger features bright, happy music, a fast-moving story line, and pleasant characters who are all lacking in moral ambiguity. It's a top-grade example of what a good B-movie of this type should be, with authentic cowboy Yakima Canutt contributing behind the camera. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
Adele Palmer - Costume Designer, Yakima Canutt - Director, Frank McDonald - Director, Harry Keller - Editor, R. Dale Butts - Composer (Music Score), Morton Scott - Composer (Music Score), Morton Scott - Musical Direction/Supervision, Bob Mark - Makeup, Gano Chittenden - Production Designer, William Bradford - Cinematographer, Armand Schaefer - Producer, John McCarthy - Set Designer, Earl B. Wooden - Set Designer, Howard Lydecker - Special Effects, Theodore Lydecker - Special Effects, Richard Tyler - Sound/Sound Designer, Paul Gangelin - Screen Story, John K. Butler - Screenwriter, Jack Townley - Screenwriter
My Pal Trigger is a 1946 American westernmusical 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.
Roy Rogers, a horse dealer and a peddler of leather goods, hopes to mate his mare 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. 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. Roy races and aids Susan when Scoville’s men hold her 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
