Under California Stars (1948)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

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.

I was curious about the premise of this picture, since an early scene reports that it's Roy Rogers' Tenth Anniversary in movies. Sure enough, a check of Roy's film credits shows "Under Western Stars" as his first feature role for Republic Films back in 1938. He had appeared in about a dozen films before in bit parts, usually as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers, and usually credited as Dick Weston or by his real name, Leonard Slye.It was a bit odd to note that Dale Evans wasn't around for this flick with the female lead going to Jane Frazee. Another reviewer on this board posits that Dale may have been in a motherly way at the time of shooting. Frazee's character is a cousin to Andy Devine's 'Cookie Bullfincher', and the story gets some comic relief from additional Bullfinchers on hand who Cookie has hired during Roy's absence. Ever the softie when it comes to his close pals, Roy takes it all in stride.The story reminded me a little of the 1946 picture "My Pal Trigger", as that one also involved a kidnapped horse. In that story it was Trigger's dad, going by the name of Golden Sovereign, and Roy was framed as the kidnapper! The villains this time though were a much more dastardly lot, as they threatened bodily harm and even death to Trigger, Roy, and a young boy who figures in the story's outcome, played by Michael Chapin. A hundred thousand dollar ransom for Trigger doesn't sound like a whole lot today, but sixty years ago I'm sure it was a pretty big deal."Under California Stars' winds up being a fairly standard Western for Roy and his sidekicks as they outwit the bad guys during the run for the ransom money. There's the usual share of double crosses that trips up the bad guy bunch, as the 'Smartest Horse in the Movies' spends a fair share of his time doing battle with the baddies as well. Fans of Rogers might notice as I did that the ten years of working for Republic must have been pretty good, as Bob Nolan and his partners all seemed to have added a few pounds around the middle. Roy however looks as trim and fit as ever, even though it's fairly evident a stand-in took his place for a running rear mount in the latter part of the picture.

This 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.