The Golden Stallion (1949)

Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

The acting in this movie is really good.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Wild horses are used to smuggle diamonds across the border from Mexico to the United States. The jewels are hidden in horseshoes. Meanwhile, well-known horse trainer Roy Rogers (as Roy Rogers) goes to work at the "Circle B" ranch owned by singing cowgirl Dale Evans (as Stormy Billings). They make pretty music together, although Mr. Rogers prefers closer companionship with his horse "Trigger". The smartest horse in the movies gets involved with the smugglers by mating with a mare they use to transport their diamonds. The union produces "Trigger Jr." and provides Rogers and his horse with danger and adventure...Director Quentin Tarantino elevated this "Trucolor" western by citing it for a discussion on films, which makes this an interesting watch. However, "The Golden Stallion" is more ordinary than revelatory. Most Rogers pictures are pleasant, and it's possible to elevate any one of them, at any moment. Here, you have a great scene - where Rogers "takes the rap" for a crime, to save Trigger from a death sentence. Rogers' lie is blatant, but acceptable. Unfortunately, the film leaves the potential for a good morality story right there. Neither Rogers nor Trigger committed the crime, which the script never gets around to resolving.***** The Golden Stallion (11/15/49) William Witney ~ Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Pat Brady, Douglas Evans

This well done b-western, entertaining and with just the right musical touches, has probably the best views of the oft used Iverson Movie Ranch. Tru-color images of this area add to the beauty of this filming location with its famous rock formations, flat stage coach chase roads, just right for the herd of horses to run across; the Iverson ranch, sadly mostly covered today by condos, apartments, and houses at least retains a lot of the rock formations to remind what a great location this once was for filming. Plus Roy, Dale, Estelita, and Pat Brady and the wonderful Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage are great as expected. In my view, the Iverson Ranch and the horses are the real stars of this film.

In The Golden Stallion some diamond smugglers have discovered a really clever way to practice their trade. They use a specially constructed horseshoe and send one of their horses in with a wild herd that goes back and forth across the border from Mexico to the states. Of course you need a good leader for these horses and in this case it's a palomino mare. But those plans go up the spout when the mare catches sight of Trigger. That little horse romance throws quite a kink into their plans. Also some humans in the person of Dale Evans and her friend Estelita Rodriguez who take over a ranch with their horse trainer Roy Rogers. They'd like to capture the wild herd and break them.Through a combination of circumstances, Trigger gets accused of murdering one of the bad guys and since he's not Mister Ed, he can't speak up for himself. Roy sacrifices his own freedom and takes a manslaughter rap to save his beloved horse. I'm not sure he'd do the same for Dale.Though I'm being somewhat flip in my comments The Golden Stallion is rather touching in terms of Roy's devotion to his best friend. I'm sure Roy's legion of young fans had a special place of affection for The Golden Stallion among his films.This film might have been the first appearance of Pat Brady with his cantankerous jeep Nellybelle that had its own personality. Watching Roy's half hour television show in the fifties, I well remember Pat and Nellybelle and how that jeep always let him down at a crucial moment.The Golden Stallion does rank as one of the better of Roy Rogers features for Republic. It's heartwarming and touching if just a tad unreal.

"The Golden Stallion" actually refers to Trigger Jr., a foal sired by Trigger with the mare who leads wild horses along the Mexican border to have diamonds smuggled across embedded in their horseshoes. Though critics often prefer the earlier "My Pal Trigger" to "The Golden Stallion," fans may prefer the latter. Dale Evans adds just the right touches as the sweetheart Stormy. Both Roy and Dale show their deep love and affection for horses which makes this one a must for kids of all ages. Roy and Dale, though having other mates earlier in life, were made for each other. No married couple in the entertainment field except possibly Burns and Allen were so compatible and so loved by their many fans. For me, this is the best of the Roy and Dale films.Pat Brady, who replaced a young fellow in the musical group The Sons of the Pioneers named Leonard Slye when he became Roy Rogers, is around for the laughs. Pat had a winning personality and was a great singer but not really much of a comedian, though he did have a funny moniker this go around as Sparrow Biffle. His jeep Nellie Belle upstages him. When an inanimate object gets the most laughs, a comic should take notice."The Golden Stallion" is in Trucolor which this time adds to the overall beauty and highlights the golden in the title. Even non-Roy Rogers fans should enjoy this cinematic gem.