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!

Roy Rogers is a popular movie cowboy / rancher, celebrating his 10th Anniversary in pictures - with the assistance of helping hands Andy Devine (as "Cookie"), Bob Nolan, the Sons of the Pioneers, and Cookie's cousin Jane Frazee (as Caroline). Mr. Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers are in particularly fine voice for this "10th Anniversary" movie.Michael Chapin (as Ted) plays a Roy Rogers fan who is taken in by the star; the boy witnesses the film's major plot development - the kidnapping of Trigger. There are several dramatic moments; but, these do not mix well with the light atmosphere of celebration and song-writing. Trigger and young Mr. Chapin are very appealing in "Under California Skies"; not surprisingly, they steal the show. A dramatic western with Chapin and Trigger (and/or Tramp) would have been a welcome feature from the studio. **** Under California Skies (4/30/48) William Witney ~ Roy Rogers, Michael Chapin, Andy Devine, Jane Frazee

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.

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.