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Kino Lorber will this week be releasing on Blu-Ray and DVD the Roy Rogers Western feature TRIGGER, JR (1950) and it certainly looks wonderful.
Kino Rolle has touted it as a brand new HD master from a 4K scan of the original 35mm Trucolor nitrate negatives preserved at Paramount Picture Archives, which is the terminology that leaves most stunned without more to say. All I can add regarding the outstanding picture is indeed “Wow!” lets all hope there will be more such good looking films to follow from Kino. It is no secret to most Western enthusiasts that Roy’s films have suffered from neglect over the years so let us thank Kino for doing the film buffs and film history a great service by presenting them in such immaculate condition.
As usual with Republic Pictures the story of this film has little to do with the plot. Most of it revolves around Roy and his wild west circus show and their extended stay at the ranch of Colonel Harkrider. Harkrider played by George Cleveland lives with his daughter Kay and grandson Larry Peter Miles from THE RED PONY who is the son of the Colonel’s other daughter that died.
With this backdrop there is a range war of sorts booming with the villain Manson Grant Withers and his Range Patrol indulging into protection racketeering at levels that would put New York mobsters to shame.
The film is only sixty-eight minutes long and as I am aware, it is one of the shorter movies. It contains characters who are more colorful than the artistic trapeze performers, but unfortunately, at the end of the day, TRIGGER, JR. has not succeeded to appeal to me as much other Rogers movies have.
To start, it is worth mentioning that I am not a huge fan of horses, although I do not mind watching some horse movies every now and then. Nonetheless, I do not appreciate all this horsing around. It is one thing watching a kid Larry, who is phobic to horses, having a masked horse nightmare. But getting to see such a large amount of injured horses and horses in masks is just too much. There needs to be more music and less of horses.
Some aspect of the movies which are not so pleasant are the characters which include an irritated colonel who declares to his grandson that he is becoming like his good for nothing dad. One cannot fail to notice how poor his grandpa is.
While I enjoyed watching Roy and Dale in the Rogers family films during lunch breaks, I do not contain a large number of their movies. Edward and Alia, and their entire family with Dale Evans and Cheryl Rogers Barnett did write a lot about the Rogers Family which means I have some of their movies. The bad news is that I found this one to be lacking in chemistry in addition to lacking romance so I do not believe I will be watching this anymore.
Nonetheless, fellow Western fans of mine have voiced strong support for TRIGGER, JR so “your mileage may vary” takes on a new meaning in this case. It’s possible this film didn’t resonate with me for one reason or another but I am sure there are others who will appreciate this one.
Gordon Jones, Pat Brady, I. Stanford Jolley, and Stanley Andrews also add flavor to the supporting cast.
Like the previous Roy Rogers Kino release, SUNSET IN THE WEST, (1950) There was also the direction of William Witney, who directed this film. I was impressed by SUNSET IN THE WEST so here’s hoping for Rogers’ next film, he is able to impress me as well”
This week, I will be listening to the commentary provided by Toby Roan and Jay Dee Witney, the director’s son. I have listened to every Toby’s, Kino commentaries and they have all been brilliant, so the addition of Witney should prove to be a nice bonus.
In the near future, I will be uploading a review on another Western from Kino Lorber, SINGING GUNS (1950) staring Vaughn Monroe, Ella Raines, Ward Bond, and Walter Brennan. It is a highlight of my day when I c
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