Rin Tin Tin

Subject: Rin Tin Tin Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:02 pm

He was an orphan who rose to the heights of Hollywood,
receiving upwards of 50,000 fan letters a month. His films helped put
a major movie studio on the map. He was Rin Tin Tin, the dog who saved Warner Brothers.

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:06 pm

In September 1918 Lee Duncan, a young World War I
American gunnery corporal, found a family of German Shepherds
after a battle in France. One of them, just a few days old, he named
Rin Tin and managed to spirit him to the U.S.

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:09 pm

Convinced the dog - capable of terrific stunts and possessed of a wonderfully expressive face - was exceptional, Duncan knocked on doors in Hollywood, sure that the dog could be a star. He even wrote a screenplay for him, and convinced Warner Brothers to produce it.

In "Clash of the Wolves" (1925), Rin Tin Tin plays a wolf pack leader who is helped by a prospector, and returns the favor by rescuing him from certain death in the desert.

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:10 pm

in "Jaws of Steel" (1927), co-starring Jason Robards Sr., Rin Tin Tin helped
round up a bunch of crooks. Good boy!

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:49 pm

In "Hills of Kentucky" (1927), Rin Tin Tin rescues not only a local schoolteacher
but a cute lady dog, too (played by Rin Tin Tin's mate, Nanette).

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:24 pm

The success of Rinty's movies led him to become known as "The dog who saved Warner Brothers."
"He was probably the most profitable star Warner Brothers had," said Susan Orlean, author of "Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend." "Every time they got into trouble, they would release a Rin Tin Tin film and bail themselves out. So they referred to him as 'the mortgage lifter.'"

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:07 am

Rin-Tin-Tin stands on his hind legs on a platform in Chicago,
Illinois, in a picture taken c. 1926.

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:12 am

Variety's critics carped that "Rinty of the Desert" (1928) contained
"most improbable situations" and had "meaningless bedroom scenes."
(Those referred to the human actors.) But fans (and theatre owners) approved.

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:48 am

With the transition to talkies, a couple of Rinty's films were released as silents with
sound sequences. "Land of the Silver Fox" (1928), shot in Yosemite National Park,
was advertised as Rin Tin Tin's first "barkie."

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:02 am

Rin Tin Tin RTT_196631_151139064948478_150815304980854_324138_8235100_n

Rin Tin Tin played a Red Cross dog on the battlefields of Europe in "Find Your Man" (1924) and "A Dog of the Regiment" (1927).

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:04 am

A publicity pose featuring Rin Tin Tin.

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:08 am

When Warner Brothers dropped Rin Tin Tin in 1930 after the introduction of talkies
("We won't be needing Rin Tin Tin's services anymore," they wrote, "because, as everyone knows, dogs don't talk"), Rin Tin Tin starred in serials for the Poverty Row studio Mascot, including "The Lone Defender" and "The Lightning Warrior."

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:22 am

Rin Tin Tin died in 1932 at the age of 14.
Legend has it he die in the arms of Jean Harlowe, who was a neighbor.

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:34 am

Although Rin Tin Tin was buried in California,
Duncan later arranged to have the dog re-entombed in the Cimetière des Chiens,
a pet cemetery in the Parisian suburb of Asnières-sur-Seine, so that Rinty would
be back in the place of his birth.

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:41 am

very interesting! never heard about this dog! Dog Run

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:55 am

One of Rin Tin Tin's offspring, Rin Tin Tin Jr, stepped in for his father to continue a string
of movies in the 1930s, including "Tough Guy" (1936), co-starring Jackie Cooper.

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:57 am

Rin Tin Tin RTT_ATTENTION--Rin_and_Rusty-actor_Lee_Aaker_and_troops_of_Ft_Apache_copyright_Screen_Gems_1956__007

Rin Tin Tin IV continued in the family business by starring in a TV series, "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954-59). Rin Tin Tin and his master, Rust (Lee Aaker), who was orphaned in an Indian raid, are adopted by cavalry troops at Fort Apache, Ariz.

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:13 pm

Rin Tin Tin RTT_Salutes_from_Rin_and_Rusty-actor_Lee_Aaker_copyright_Screen_Gems_1956__006

Rin Tin Tin IV with Lee Aaker in "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin."

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:15 pm

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Rin Tin Tin IV with James Brown as Lt. Ripley "Rip" Masters in
"The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin."

Subject: Re: Rin Tin Tin Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:16 pm

Rin Tin Tin RTT_Read_em_and_weep-Rin_with_Joe_Sawyer_and_Max_Klevin-copyright_Screen_Gems_1955___011

"Read 'em and weep": Rin Tin Tin IV with Joe Sawyer and Max Klevin
in a publicity shot for "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin."