Best movie of this year hands down!
... View MoreEach character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
... View MoreThere is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
... View MoreOne of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.
... View MoreThis 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.
... View MoreRoy leaves Hollywood for his ranch where he will be broadcasting a spectacle commemorating his tenth year in motion pictures as joins his helper Andy Devine in a search of the thieves who kidnapped Trigger . As the newspapers publicize ¨Trigger stolen¨, ¨Trigger kidnapped¨. As Rancher Roy and his pals track down a bunch who have stolen Trigger and are holding him for $100,000 ransom . The movie contains action Western ,songs, adventures, shoot-outs, fighting and is quite entertaining . Swinging From His Toes And Shooting From His Hips...Roy Battles His Foes With A Song On His Lips! . Roy Rogers and Andy Devine team up again in the habitual thin story , but filled with riding stunts and noisy action . It deals with Roy Rogers turned Hollywood star who has just finished his latest picture as he goes back his ranch in California . When Roy and Trigger arrive in his ranch he meets Cookie (Andy Devine) has contracted his relatives (also played by the likable Andy Devine) and Caroline (Jane Frazee , Dale Evens this time doesn't appear) . Bob tells Roy a band of men are chasing range horses . Pop (Lloyd) and Mcfarland (Wade Crosby) decide there's money in abducting Trigger and demand a ransom . McFarland's stepson, named Ted Carver (the little boy well performed by Michael Chapin) , and his dog Tramp, run away and is found hiding in Roy's barn to investigate strange events about the Trigger abduct . Later on, with the help of Devine and other partners , Roy aware that the band is formed by Pop Jordan and McFarland have kidnapped the smarter horse and they set out in pursuit accompanied by the dog Tramp that lead them to the barn .This B movie displays sensational adventures , intrigue, fights , lots of fun and is pretty enjoyable . This average-budget Western blends action , hokey fun ,humor , suspense and emotional happenings .The highlights of the movie are the amazing race between Trigger and a sympathetic dog called Tramp ; plus the spectacular rescue by Rogers and his boys . Our heroes incarnated by a throughly believable casting of the usual characters undergo numerous adventures and suffering innumerable perils . Surprise-filled entertainment and plenty of action on middle scale . The exterior scenes , gun-play , fights , brawls, , all of them are lightly spectacular and the film is another ordinary Hollywood product but of B-series. Memorable and great cast as Roy Rogers stars the famous singer cowboy , he played in various musical groups ,in 1934 he formed a group called ¨Sons of Pioneers¨ , they appeared in numerous Westerns (Rhythm on the range, Son of the pioneers , On the Spanish trail , among others). Roy was married three times . Arlene Wilkins , his second wife, died a few day after giving birth to their son ,¨Roy Rogers Jr or Dusty¨ and Dale Evans his third spouse , became his four children's mom . Inducted along with his wife Evans into the Hall of great Western performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and also as member of the Sons of Pioneers . Their nicknames were ,Roy as ¨King of cowboys¨ , Dale Evans ¨Queen of the West¨ and Trigger ¨ Smartest horse in the movies¨ . Roy got his horse ¨Trigger¨in 1938 and rode him in every one of his film and TV shows after that. He had appeared in one early movie , being ridden by Olivia De Havilland in ¨¨ The adventures of Robin Hood¨. Trigged died in 1965,aged 33 years.¨Under California stars¨ includes several songs , played by ¨Son of Pioneers¨ and the actors as Rogers and Devine . Colorful cinematography in Trucolor , though photography is washed-out , reflecting wonderfully landscapes from Chatsworth Park , Los Angeles , California . This ancient movie is professionally directed by William Witney , a craftsman who directed 140 titles from the 30s . The film is produced by Republic picture, usual in serials of low budget . The director , William Witney ,was a prolific director of short budget and TV episodes ( Daniel Boone , Bonanza ,Virginian ) , his best film was ¨The master of world¨ with Vincent Price . The motion picture will appeal to Western buffs and it's a marvelous popcorn story .
... View MoreBack 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!
... View MoreThis film has about the same visual appeal as My Friend Flicka,with it's brilliantly colorful Trucolor camerawork. The colorenhances greatly a film that is still mostly enjoyable. Thoughhighly dated, at times it's even suspenseful and get pretty excitingtowards the end, when Roy Rogers and his friends go to rescueTrigger, who is billed as the smartest horse in pictures, and whocomes across as just that. Roy is charismatic and does all thesinging and horse wrangling like a pro, why shouldn't he?, and therest of the cast lend decent performances. Michael Chapin isprobably the best of the cast, after Roy, making his role as thetoken star-struck kid seem not too predictable. Jane Frazee, onthe other hand, comes across as one of the dumbest leadingladies ever. So, it's amusing and squeaky clean entertainment forall the ages, but nothing superb. But then, it really wasn'tsupposed to be.
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