Trigger, Jr.

"Trigger Jr" is a very well made film, but don't go into it expecting a typical Roy Rogers movie. I agree with a previous reviewer who noted that a better title would have been "The Phantom Stallion", because that is the character that motivates this movie, and he is presented as an almost supernatural creature in a horror movie rather than as a real animal. He is actually shown as being "created" as a monster by the bad guys who torture him, and send him out to do their evil bidding. There are a lot of horror elements in this movie, including nightmarish visions of stampedes, thunderstorms, and a surprising amount of violence for a Roy Rogers movie, most of which is directed towards animals rather than people. Many of the people in the movie are pretty dark too, including the grandfather who is almost sadistic toward his grandson through most of the movie. Even Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are really subdued in this movie, and there is less comic relief than usual. Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage are nicely highlighted, and all the songs are wonderful. The circus scenes are entertaining, and the photography and direction by William Witney is excellent. The horses are really the stars of this movie.