To me, this movie is perfection.

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

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!

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.

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.