"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.
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.