Absolutely brilliant

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Although it's often stated that when Rogers started out, he didn't directly compete with Gene Autry, this isn't true. In fact, he was actually hired as a replacement, as Rogers himself details at length in his autobiography. Although Rogers was never as popular with exhibitors, he had a great fan following, In fact, he managed to run up a total of no less than 91 movies in which he either starred or enjoyed a "special guest" spot in addition to his 12 appearances as one of the Sons of the Pioneers. Many of these movies are available on Public Domain DVDs, although there is no definitive edition of his work, as there is for Gene Autry. Worse, some of the DVDs reproduce cutdown TV versions rather than the original theatrical release. A pleasing exception is Volume 6 of "The Great American Western" series which reproduces the original USA release version of "My Pal Trigger". Admittedly it runs only 79 minutes, and I would have much preferred a re-issue of the 85 minutes version which Rogers himself regarded as his best film and which I saw in theaters back in 1947. Nonetheless, despite the cuts, this is still a top Rogers entry which dares to be extremely critical of law enforcement agencies. That's a nice change in itself. In fact, the only other movie I can call to mind that really gets the boot into the "justice" system is Paramount's "Vice Squad" (1931). Evidently Republic's Herb Yates had a fit when he saw the finished movie and ordered 6 minutes of cuts, but you can't cut out the theme of the movie itself, and even in its truncated state, it's still a riveting film.

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.

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.