My Pal Trigger (1946)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Frank McDonald

Writers:

Paul Gangelin (story)
Jack Townley (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 July 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

Laugh And Cry At A Truly Different Story Of The West...A Truly Great Tale Of The Love Of A Man For His Horse!

Plot:

Gabby refuses to breed his horse the Golden Sovereign with Roy's. When the Sovereign and Roy's horse escape...

Plot Keywords:

Horse | Palomino | Horse Actor | Horse Race | Horse Breeder

Cast

Roy Rogers	...	Roy Rogers
Trigger	...	Trigger, Smartest Horse in the Movies
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Gabby Kendrick
Dale Evans	...	Susan Kendrick
Jack Holt	...	Brett Scoville
LeRoy Mason	...	Carson
Roy Barcroft	...	Hunter
Sam Flint	...	Sheriff
Kenne Duncan	...	Croupier
Ralph Sanford	...	Auctioneer Al
Francis McDonald	...	Storekeeper
Harlan Briggs	...	Dr. Bentley
William Haade	...	Davis (as Wm. Haade)
Bob Nolan	...	Bob Nolan
Sons of the Pioneers	...	Musicians, Ranch hands

Runtime:

79 min (original version) | 54 min (edited version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #11587) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Kentucky Park Farms - 235 W. Potrero Road, Thousand Oaks, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

Trigger is the same horse that carried Olivia de Havilland as Lady Marian in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Roy Rogers: Golden horses - that's what they call the palominos. And palominos have quite a history. You know, the history of my own palomino began right here at this ranch. If I hadn't-a gone through that gate a few years back, I'd never have gotten my pal, Trigger.

Roy Didn't Do it!

"My Pal Trigger" was reportedly one of Roy Rogers favorites of his films. Republic gave it a little more budget and its running time at 79 minutes is a good 10-20 minutes longer than the standard "B" programmer.

The story involves Roy attempting to have rancher Gabby Hayes prize stallion sire a colt with his mare. Hayes (in a straight acting role) refuses and in the ensuing action, his stallion is shot and Roy is blamed. Of, course the two horses did get together and we know who the resultant colt will be. The rest of the film has Roy trying to convince Hayes and daughter Dale Evans of his innocence.

There is not really a black-hearted villain in the story although Jack Holt is a close as it comes as Hayes rival rancher. The picture is devoid of any real action (although there are a couple of minor fights) and hardly a shot is fired. My God even Roy Barcroft as Holt's foreman doesn't even get into a fight. There are a few songs but no production numbers. The Sons of the Pioneers sing a catchy little tune.

I liked the Rogers pics directed by William Witney better. They had more action and less music.