  The electrical resistivity of La$_{1-x}$Ca$_{x}$MnO$_{3}$ thin films grown on
(001) NdGaO$_{3}$ and (100) SrTiO$_{3}$ substrates by off-axis sputtering has
been studied as a function of the Calcium doping level. The samples have very
narrow rocking curves and excellent in plane registry with the substrate. A
strong correlation between the peak resistance temperature and the polaronic
hopping energy is seen which is not simply linear. The low temperature
resistivity is seen to be fit better by a model of single magnon scattering,
and a near linear correlation between the resistivity due to magnon scattering
and static impurities is observed.
