My Pal Trigger

My Pal Trigger

Original film poster
Directed by Frank McDonald
Produced by Armand Schaefer (associate producer)
Written by Screenplay:
Jack Townley
John K. Butler
Story:
Paul Gangelin
Starring Roy Rogers
Dale Evans
Jack Holt
George "Gabby" Hayes
Trigger
Bob Nolan
Music by R. Dale Butts
Mort Glickman
Charles Maxwell
Cinematography William Bradford
Edited by Harry Keller
Distributed by Republic Pictures
Release dates
  • July 10, 1946
Running time
 79 minutes
Country United States
Language English

My Pal Trigger is a 1946 American Western musical film directed by Frank McDonald. The screenplay by Jack Townley and John K. Butler was based upon a story by Paul Gangelin. The film stars Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, George “Gabby” Hayes, Jack Holt, and Trigger in a story about the origin of Rogers's mount, and their deep and faithful bond. The film features several musical numbers for Rogers, Evans, and Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Plot

Roy Rogers, a horse dealer and a peddler of leather goods, is hoping to mate his mare named "Lady" with Golden Sovereign, a stallion owned by rancher Gabby Kendrick (George "Gabby" Hayes). Kendrick refuses, preferring to mate the stallion with his own stock. Brett Scoville (Jack Holt), a wealthy rancher and nightclub owner, wants to mate the stallion with his mare, as well, and to that end, steals the stallion. Golden Sovereign breaks free, finds Lady, and has a romantic interlude with her in the hills.

A search is raised to find Golden Sovereign, but Scoville accidentally shoots and kills the horse when Golden Sovereign is attacked by a wild stallion. Roy arrives on the scene and chases Scoville off with a bullet, but cannot later identify him as the killer. To all appearances, it looks like Roy is responsible for the death of Golden Sovereign, and he is arrested. He jumps bail, and takes off on Lady. Months later, Lady gives birth to Golden Sovereign's son. Roy names him Trigger and, in time, the horse becomes his mount.

Roy returns to the Golden Horse Ranch to present Trigger as a gift to Kendrick. The gift is declined, and Roy is jailed as a fugitive from justice. Trigger is auctioned to pay Roy's debts. Scoville acquires the horse and, when the case against Roy is dropped, hires him to train Trigger.

A year later, Scoville and Susan Kendrick (Dale Evans) enter their horses in a race at the State Fair. Roy is riding Scoville's Trigger in the race, and Scoville promises him ownership of the horse should he win the race. Roy is reluctant to race after learning Scoville killed Golden Sovereign. However, Roy races and aids Susan when Scoville's men hold her horse in a pocket on the track. Susan wins the race on Golden Empress, and, consequently, Roy loses possession of Trigger. Later, Scoville is arrested for killing Golden Sovereign, and, Roy finally comes into possession of Trigger through Kendrick. Eventually, Roy is employed at the Kendrick ranch, and Trigger becomes the father of twin sons born to Susan's Golden Empress.

Cast

Music

External links