Rin Tin Tin

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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.'"

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

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.

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."

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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).

A publicity pose featuring Rin Tin Tin.

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."

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

Although Rin Tin Tin was buried in California, Duncan later arranged to have the dog re-entombed in the Cimeti

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.

RTT_ATTENTION--Rin_and_Rusty-actor_Lee_Aaker_and_troops_of_Ft_Apache_copyright_Screen_Gems_1956__007.jpg — Screen Gems

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.

RTT_Salutes_from_Rin_and_Rusty-actor_Lee_Aaker_copyright_Screen_Gems_1956__006.jpg — Screen Gems

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

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

RTT_Read_em_and_weep-Rin_with_Joe_Sawyer_and_Max_Klevin-copyright_Screen_Gems_1955___011.jpg — Screen Gems

"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."