User reviews

"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.

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.

I saw an edited version of this film that was done for television. Other reviewers here have mentioned scenes from it that I didn't see.

There is more drama in this than in most of Roy Rogers's films. In fact he and Dale only sing one number right at the beginning because they become enemies.

Dale is Gabby Hayes's daughter and Gabby is playing it more serious than he usually does. Roy's riding a mare called Lady when the film opens and he wants to breed his mare with Gabby's palomino named Golden Sovereign. Even though Roy's request is refused, the horses have a clandestine liaison.

But then Gabby's horse is shot dead and Roy gets blamed for it. The rest of the film is how Roy rights all the wrongs and ends up with the product of the mating. You guessed it, his pal Trigger.

I'm also thinking that maybe a musical number or two might have been cut from the version of My Pal Trigger I saw. I doubt it though, it would have taken away from the general seriousness of this particular Rogers-Evans film.

Also note the presence of Jack Holt who is the villain of this film. It was one of his last, but his son Tim was doing B westerns over at RKO while Jack was in this Republic product. Jack Holt's got all kinds of villainous tricks up his sleeve here.

Hopefully other viewers will see a complete version of My Pal Trigger and not the one I saw.

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.

In a flashback story, Roy Rogers relates how he obtained "My Pal Trigger". Mr. Rogers was, some time ago, a traveling peddler (and breeder) of horses. He rode a horse named "Lady". The Lady and the Gentleman go to George "Gabby" Hayes' ranch, where Rogers meets Bob Nolan and the "Sons of the Pioneers". Rogers next meets Gabby's lovely daughter Dale Evans (as Susan); she is atop the stallion "Golden Sovereign'. Rogers wants to breed "Lady" and "Golden Sovereign", but Mr. Hayes refuses. Jack Holt (as Brett Scoville) is an even badder dude.

It's easy to see why this film is a sentimental favorite; and, it is an interesting change-of-pace. The part with Rogers, Ms. Evans, and the two horses meeting is clever - there is a parallel attraction between the two horses AND between Rogers and Evans. Having the horses get together and mate, on their own ,was quite nice. The mating of "Golden Sovereign" and "Lady" is confirmed (in case there was any doubt) by the birth of "Trigger". Along the way, the adults, especially Rogers, help give the Horses great characterization and appeal. There are some sweet, and sad, scenes Rogers plays out with the horses.

The weaknesses in the story are going to be very obvious as you watch - you're barely able to accept the premise of the story when Rogers is suddenly accused of a crime. He's found "red-handed" by Gabby Hayes, Dale Evans and the "Sons of the Pioneers" - Evans points her gun at the accused Rogers, the man with whom she'd just been singing a happy song. The quickness to believe Rogers guilty is ridiculous. Later, Evans reverses her position. By then, the plot contrivances have multiplied faster than the horses. Though some of the scenes with the horses are nice, they are simply not adequate for what is attempted.

**** My Pal Trigger (7/10/46) Frank McDonald ~ Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Dale Evans

When Roy is mistakenly accused of killing Gabby Hayes' prize winning stallion, he takes his mare on the run where she gives birth to Rogers' iconic horse Trigger, returning a few years later to make things right.

My Pal Trigger is a well-written, satisfying outdoor adventure that really knows how to manipulate the emotions of it's targeted audience. I neither like nor use the terms "oat opera" or "horse opera", but if ever there was a film that deserved those titles, then this one is it!

A great cast includes nearly all of Rodgers' best known (and best loved) co-stars, Gabby Hayes, Dale Evans, Bob Nolan, and The Sons Of The Pioneers, not to mention fine character actor Jack Holt.

This is the quintessential Roy Rogers western and a good place to start if you're wondering what all the fuss was about some sixty-plus years ago.

In this film, Roy Rogers is trying to get a grouchy guy, Gabby Kendrick (Gabby Hayes), to provide stud services for Roy's horse. Hmmmm....let me rephrase that. Roy is trying to breed his horse with Gabby's horse. But Gabby won't hear of it and is a total jerk.

Later, someone kills Gabby's prize horse and Roy is blamed for it. He didn't do it, of course, and it's pretty obvious that Scoville (Jack Holt) is behind it. But no one knows this until the end of the film--and in the meantime, Roy is forced, for some time, to hide from the law. Naturally, by the end of the film everything has worked out--and Roy has his new prize horsie, Trigger.

This is a rather amiable Roy Rogers film. While the songs are completely ordinary, the plot is different and enjoyable. Not exactly deep or lasting entertainment but pretty nice stuff to pass the time.

Roy Rogers was the epitome of the stylized singing cowboy of the mid 20th century. This movie and others with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are probably better received by those who have an understanding of the real relationship and lifestyles of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans off screen.

Typically the Roy Roger movies and television series were very stylized between black and white morality. This movie breaks the mold to the extent that while at heart, Roy plays an honest cowboy, his solution to being falsely arrested is to become a fugitive from justice. He also forces his way into a barn on private property when his mare goes into foal and fights the owner and ranch hands when they insist that he leaves.

As with most "hero" movies, the truth comes out in the end when Dale Evans becomes to believe in Roy's innocence which is ultimately proved and the bad guys go to jail.

On the surface this movie had Roy's fancy clothes and saddle, pistols and rifles, beautiful horses, cowboy singing, and even a square dance on horseback. By the 1940's, this was one version of the west that the movie companies presented to the public.

As a side note, it is always interesting to reflect upon the style of any movie made just before, during, or after the depression or WII.

I went on a nostalgia trip and screened this movie when hearing of the death of Dale Evans. It is the best of the Roy Rogers movies with a real story and some genuinely touching moments, it is also a nice reminder of what a pretty and gracious lady Dale Evans was.

Just because a movie is of a different style than one is accustomed to doesn't mean it can't be very worthwhile; singing cowboys are so far removed from modern notions of cinema that the idea of watching such a movie is one borne mostly of passing curiosity. Make no mistake, this hails from a time with very different and simplified notions of what constitutes entertainment, and it's unquestionably ham-handed. Even at that, there's some earnest light humor to be had, and otherwise levity; as the plot progresses and tempers flare, the tension fosters plentiful fun of its own. And, yes, hokey as the proliferate songs are, they're passably enjoyable in their own right. 'My pal Trigger' may not be perfect, and in 2022 the audience for it may be more select, but you know what? This is pretty decent!

Of course the horses are lovely, and especially as we get to see so much of them in this case, it's a treat to see them at work and play. Setting aside the equine stars and the genre, however, what might be most noteworthy about this title is that as it opens, Roy Rogers himself - known ever as the congenial hero of his pictures - is kind of the bad guy? He's definitely not in the right, in any event; though the subsequent drama is the bread and butter of the film, and all is well in the end, it seems odd watching one of the star's works in which he has posited himself as at most an anti-hero. I would say that it's a credit to the writers to have effectively made the actor play against type, though on the other hand, the title maintains the same blithe tone at all times, no matter what's happening on-screen, and the attitudes of supporting characters sometimes altogether raise a skeptical eyebrow. For my part, I'm struck by a sense that the writers couldn't find a way to wholly reconcile the common characterization of Rogers and the story they wanted to tell without sacrificing best storytelling judiciousness.

That slight unevenness in the writing is unfortunate. In the broad strokes the plot is quite solid, with some great ideas. When all is said and done the narrative is satisfying, but it lacks the utmost mindfulness in its craft that would have best served the story. Still, even with this in mind, in all other ways this is duly well made, with William Bradford's cinematography standing out at some points. It is, after all, entertaining and worthwhile, if not reaching its full potential. One should also perhaps note a content warning for animal cruelty. Even at its worst, though, my feeling is one of regret rather than active dislike, and if that's the most I have to say against a feature, then I suppose it's doing rather well for itself. Neither among Rogers' oeuvre specifically nor cinema at large is this a must-see; there are other things you should make a priority. If you happen to come across 'My pal Trigger' it's still not a bad way to pass 80 minutes, though.

This has to be one of the most misleading titles among the B-Westerns/Singing Cowboy films- because My Pal Trigger really sells wholesomeness and sentimentality. Instead, this film involves horse murder, horse euthanasia Machiavellian mechanizations with characters-in context-who wear grey hats. This is an entertaining melodrama and its plot is a more complex than you usually get in this style of films. Rogers, "Gabby" and the rest of the cast are their charming selves. Worth checking out if you are a Western fan.

Appealing Rogers oater. It's not so much a typical cowboy movie as a horse show. The plot's more complex than usual; plus, fans looking for gunplay and fisticuffs may be disappointed. Instead, Roy needs to clear himself from the belief that he shot Trigger's father Golden Stallion. Actually, it was scheming gambler Scoville (Holt) who's looking to gyp ranch owner Kendrick (Hayes) out of his land. Trouble is Kendrick thinks Roy is the horse killer and won't help him, even though daughter Susan (Evans) is drawn to Roy.

Gabby's his usual grouchy self, much of it atypically aimed at Roy. In fact, his Kendrick is not very likable through much of the movie. High points include some awesome mountain scenery, a scary cougar, and some well-done horse action. Also Roy, Dale, and 'Pioneers take turns crooning several lovely standards. All in all, it's a more easy-going hour-plus than the usual. I'm just sorry to say they don't make 'em like this anymore.

A "7" on the Matinée Scale.