Under California Stars (1948)

Rancher Roy and his boys track down a gang who have stolen Trigger and are holding him for ransom.

Director:

William Witney

Writers:

Paul Gangelin (story), Sloan Nibley (screenplay),

Stars:

Roy Rogers, Trigger, Jane Frazee

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roy Rogers	...	Roy Rogers
Trigger	...	Trigger
Jane Frazee	...	Caroline Bullfincher
Andy Devine	...	Cookie Bullfincher / Alf Bullfincher
George Lloyd	...	Pop Jordan (as George H. Lloyd)
Wade Crosby	...	Lige McFarland
Michael Chapin	...	Ted Carver
House Peters Jr.	...	Henchman Ed
Steve Clark	...	Sheriff
Joseph A. Garro	...	John the Banker (as Joseph Garro)
Paul Power	...	Movie Director Paul
John Wald	...	WYX Radio Announcer
Bob Nolan	...	Bob
Sons of the Pioneers	...	Sons of the Pioneers

Storyline

Roy has just finished his latest film and leaves for his ranch where he will be broadcasting a show celebrating his tenth year in movies. When Roy and Trigger arrive at his ranch he finds Cookie has hired his relatives. Caroline, the only relative that doesn't have a strong resemblance to Cookie, is the horse trainer. Bob Tells Roy a gang of men are hunting range horses. Roy puts a stop to hunting on his land. Pop decides there's money in kidnapping Trigger and demands a $100,000 ransom. McFarland's stepson, Ted, and his dog Tramp, run away and is found hiding in Roy's barn. A trap is set to catch the kidnappers ranch.

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Plot Keywords:

ranch | ransom | horse | rancher | kidnapping | 

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 April 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Under California Skies

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min 70 min (original) 54 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Trucolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The amount of smoke surrounding the burning barn towards the end of the film.

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Quotes

[commenting on the girth of the new ranch hands]
Roy Rogers: Cookie, if you don't quit hiring your relatives...
Cookie Bullfincher: Well, Roy, after their mama died...
Roy Rogers: ...we'll never be able to feed Europe!

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Soundtracks

"Rogers, King of the Cowboys"
Written by Jack Elliott
Performed by Andy Devine and the Sons of the Pioneers

User Reviews

How Low Can You Go?

In Under California Stars, Roy Rogers plays exactly who he is, Roy Rogers, B western star. The film opens with him shooting a last scene of his latest film and now he's headed back to his own ranch. In the meantime a star struck kid played by Michael Chapin gets a job at Roy's ranch and witnesses a dastardly crime, the kidnapping of Trigger by some really low criminals who want $100,000.00 or they'll shoot the palomino icon.

Every kid in America would have been up in arms over this had word got out. But as a previous reviewer said, the whole thing is handled locally. Roy's studio, which would have been Republic Pictures, raised the ransom. I can just see Herbert J. Yates of Republic caught between a rock and a hard place on this one. He had a well deserved reputation as a tightwad, but Trigger himself was part of the Roy Rogers mystique, so he HAD to raise the money. I would at least have thought that Yates would have had Trigger insured.

Of course life imitates art and Roy takes things into his own hands in ferreting out the criminals. They are in fact a pretty scurvy lot, busy doublecrossing each other as you will see if you watch the film.

And despite my description it's not a bad film. Jane Frazee pinch hits for Dale Evans because I believe Dale was either pregnant or taking care of a newborn at the time. And Andy Devine is, well Andy Devine.