My Pal Trigger (1946)

A Masterpiece!

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

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.

"My Pal Trigger" is a showcase for "The Smartest Horse in the Movies" as Roy Rogers' horse was frequently billed. If any fault is to be found with the film, it's probably that there are too many stories going on; there are enough subplots to support another two or three movies.Central to the movie though, is Roy Rogers' attempt to find a suitable mare to breed with his own horse named Lady. Finding such a horse owned by the Kendrick's (Gabby Hayes as Gabby Kendrick, and Dale Evans as daughter Susan), Roy's request is denied as Gabby has no use for an animal other than those he has raised himself. The Golden Sovereign is part of the Kendrick stable, and is also the target of businessman Brett Scoville (Jack Holt). As Gabby falls deeper into debt at Scoville's gambling club, both Sovereign and the Kendrick ranch are at risk of falling into the villain's hands.Trigger arrives on the scene as the foal of Golden Sovereign and Lady, who managed to get together for a moonlight tryst shortly after the Sovereign is kidnapped by Scoville's henchmen. Framing Roy for the theft, and again implicating him for the death of Sovereign, Roy goes into self imposed exile. With a map of the Western States superimposed on the screen, we're led to believe that Roy has wandered far and wide, only to return to familiar locales for the birth of Trigger. Offering him to the Kendricks' as a replacement for Golden Sovereign, Rogers is finally taken into custody for the earlier events. Scoville now seeing an opportunity, secretly buys Trigger at auction when he becomes collateral for Roy's bail. In a stealthy maneuver, Scoville hires Roy to train Trigger, and challenges Gabby to a showdown race where it's winner take all - Gabby's gambling debt against his ranch. However, when Scoville trips up and places himself at the scene of Golden Sovereign's shooting, Roy has all the ammunition he needs to bring down the villain. In a climactic race at the State Fair, Roy aboard Trigger helps Miss Susan break free of Scoville's race entries; Susan's horse wins the race and Gabby's score is almost settled. It's not until the celebration dinner that the Sheriff arrives to arrest Scoville for the shooting of Golden Sovereign three years earlier.I've read where Roy Rogers considered "My Pal Trigger" his favorite film. For trivia fans as well as Roy Rogers fans, it's interesting to note that Trigger's real name was Golden Cloud, and made his first movie appearance as Lady Marian's mount in Errol Flynn's 1938 film "The Adventures of Robin Hood". Roy bought him soon after and the rest is Western film history.

"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.

One of the best known, and one of the more entertaining, among Roy Rogers' Westerns, "My Pal Trigger" has a pretty good blend of western action and melodrama. It's good entertainment, fast-paced, with plenty going on at all times. The plot may not always be plausible, but it always keeps your attention, as one thing after another keeps coming up to test Roy's patience and ingenuity. Although much of the time you can see what's coming, it's pretty hard not to pull for him. The movie includes Gabby Hayes as one of his most cantankerous characters, and also Dale Evans. If you enjoy these old B-Westerns, you should find this one worthwhile.