Touches You

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

I guess the appeal of this movie was aimed primarily at the kids. They would identify with the young players, although it does seem that Republic wanted to rope in adults as well, as some of the scenes are rather gruesome. In fact, as the plot progresses, it seems that Republic was keen to rope in picture-goers of all ages and tastes. It's a ploy that doesn't work because the movie's various components and plot strands tend to work against each other and thus antagonize picture-goers of all stripes and ages. For example, if the film is aimed at the kids, there are many scenes that kids would find either plain boring or - even worse - distressing! The film also goes overboard to maintain the star's appeal to horse lovers. In fact, I'm amazed that Trigger's name does not form part of the title. "Trigger Kidnapped!" is what I would use. Or you could easily dream up a title that would appeal to the large juvenile audience that the film is also obviously aimed at. Instead, the movie strives to be all things to all viewers and ends up satisfying none. The title itself is a cop-out. "Under California Stars" contains no clues as to the movie's content. Why not be brave and come right out with "Trigger Snatched" or "Trigger Abducted"."Under California Stars" tells us nothing. True, some of the scenes are well done but, as said, they don't make a cohesive whole but tend to work against each other!

This is a very unusual Roy Rogers film in that it is in the public domain and yet is complete--and in really nice condition. Many of Rogers' films are in the public domain but they are truncated versions--chopped to pieces in order to fit them into TV time slots back in the 1950s. It's nice to get a chance to see one in its entirety.Unlike many Rogers films, this one features neither Dale Evans nor Gabby Hayes. I have no idea why they weren't in this film but instead Jane Frazee and Andy Devine are on hand to fill these roles. And, both seemed up to the task.Like so many of Roy's later films, he essentially plays an idealized version of himself. Like in real life, this Roy is celebrating ten years in Hollywood. And, after completing his latest movie, is going back to his Double-R ranch for a needed vacation. There he learns that some local baddies are killing range horses. Roy sees one of these guys about to kill one when he intervenes--and you KNOW that these two will become instant enemies.The baddie (Lige) is a brute and he and Dad both mistreat a nice little kid, Ted, and are crooks. They plan on stealing Roy's best friend, Trigger, and hold him for ransom. But it becomes a lot more serious when later one of the gang is murdered to keep him from telling Roy where his horse is. Can Roy solve the murder and rescue the smartest horse in movies? And, what of poor Ted--he's in need of an operation and needs a good home!! Well, this last part is a bit schmaltzy--though the rest of it is quite nice. Overall, while not a great film, it's very enjoyable worth seeing--particularly if you enjoy B-series westerns.

Back at home after finishing his latest movie, Roy Rogers runs afoul of a nasty group of abusive wild horse-wranglers, who hatch a plot to kidnap Trigger and ransom him back to Roy for one-hundred-thousand dollars.Roy celebrates his tenth anniversary as a feature attraction (onscreen as well as off) with this well-photographed color production. However, one wishes that he would have celebrated this milestone with a few more of his best loved co-stars, not just Andy Devine, Bob Nolan, and The Sons Of The Pioneers. Where's Dale Evans and Gabby Hayes?Still, Under California Stars is pleasant, straight-forward, and has some great songs, with musical highlights that include the title song (not really written by Cookie Bullfincher!) and Roy joining The Sons Of The Pioneers in singing "Dust".One unbelievable moment that has to be seen to be believed shows Trigger stomping a villains face in! For a few seconds you actually see in the background, a dummy with his face caved in!

In Under California Stars, Roy Rogers plays exactly who he is, Roy Rogers, B western star. The film opens with him shooting a last scene of his latest film and now he's headed back to his own ranch. In the meantime a star struck kid played by Michael Chapin gets a job at Roy's ranch and witnesses a dastardly crime, the kidnapping of Trigger by some really low criminals who want $100,000.00 or they'll shoot the palomino icon.Every kid in America would have been up in arms over this had word got out. But as a previous reviewer said, the whole thing is handled locally. Roy's studio, which would have been Republic Pictures, raised the ransom. I can just see Herbert J. Yates of Republic caught between a rock and a hard place on this one. He had a well deserved reputation as a tightwad, but Trigger himself was part of the Roy Rogers mystique, so he HAD to raise the money. I would at least have thought that Yates would have had Trigger insured.Of course life imitates art and Roy takes things into his own hands in ferreting out the criminals. They are in fact a pretty scurvy lot, busy doublecrossing each other as you will see if you watch the film.And despite my description it's not a bad film. Jane Frazee pinch hits for Dale Evans because I believe Dale was either pregnant or taking care of a newborn at the time. And Andy Devine is, well Andy Devine.