The dogs big break came when he stepped in for a recalcitrant wolf in The Man From Hells River. Rin Tin Tin would be cast as a wolf or wolf-hybrid many times in his career, though not looking like one.
Nicknamed Rinty by his owner, the dog learned tricks and could leap great heights. He was seen performing at a dog show by film producer Charles Jones, who paid Duncan to film Rinty. Duncan became convinced Rin Tin Tin could become the next Strongheart.
Rin Tin Tin was the name given to several related German Shepherd dogs featured in fictional stories on film, radio and television.
The first of the line was a shell-shocked pup found by American serviceman Lee Duncan in a bombed-out dog kennel in Lorraine, France, less than two months before the end of World War I. He was named for a puppet called Rin tin tin that French children gave to the American soldiers for good luck. The dog returned at wars end with Duncan to his home in Los Angeles, California. In color he was a dark sable, with very dark eyes.
Brownie, a mixed breed of bull terrier and fox terrier, starred in about 50 films for Century Film Company from 1918 to 1924. He was often a co-star of Baby Peggy, one of the most successful child stars of the silent era. Peggy-Jean Montgomery made her film debut alongside Brownie in Playmates (1921). Following the films success, she was billed as Baby Peggy and appeared with Brownie in several more films, such as Pals (1921), Golfing (1921), Brownies Little Venus (1921), Brownies Baby Doll (1921), and Chums (1921). Though Brownies films have been lost, some clips remain of Playmates, as well as Brownies Little Venus, which was rediscovered in Switzerland in 2010. The remaining clip of Playmates depicts Brownie cleverly preparing Baby Peggy for a bath. He turns a knob to fill up the tub, then retrieves soap, a scrubber, and a towel. Besides film, Brownies other claim to fame was a comic strip based on him. In 1926, a comic strip entitled Les Aventures du Chien Brownie—which translates to The Adventures of Brownie the Dog—was released in France, and ran for one year. It was written by Jean dAgraives and illustrated by E. Nicolson.
I never heard of most of these dogs before with the exception of Rin Tin Tin and of course I was familiar with the little dog who played Toto on the Wizard of Oz and the dog who played Lassie as well as Roy Roger’s dog named Bullet who was on his show. I will have to see if I can find some of these films to watch! I love dogs and this was a very interesting article on these canine stars. I really enjoyed it. You did a great job!
Not much is known about Pal the Dog, such as his breed, his ownership, and which production companies he worked for. He appears to have been either a pit bull or Staffordshire terrier mix, judging by his appearance in his only surviving film, A Rag Doll Romance (1922). In that film, Pal worked with child actors Doreen Turner and Lawrence Licalzi, as well as animal actor Joe the Monkey. The story centers on two children: a well-off little girl living with her dog and grandmother, and a poor boy who lives with his uncle and pet monkey in a train car. The children befriend each other, as do the dog and monkey. Pal also worked with Turner and Licalzi in the films A Penny Reward (1922), Monkey Shines, and Schoolday Love (1922). The latter film featured not only Pal but fellow animal actor Maude the Mule as well. In the film Cured (1922) he also acted alongside Queenie the Horse and Rosie the Monkey.
This is really interesting. The only one of these Ive heard of is Rin Tin Tin. Thanks to you, now Im more knowledgeable about these famous dogs.
Rin Tin Tin was rescued from a World War I battlefield in France by an American soldier and went on to become an international movie star. The soldier, Lee Duncan, brought him to the United States and trained him for dog shows, and later for films. His first film, a western entitled The Man from Hells River (1922), was an instant success. The following year, he was given his first starring role in Where the North Begins (1923), an action-adventure film that saved Warner Bros. from bankruptcy. He became their biggest box-office draw and was much sought after for endorsement deals and publicity photos. Rin Tin Tin merchandise—currently preserved in several museums—also earned much revenue. Rin Tin Tins films, which were mostly silent, were all action-oriented and focused on him performing heroic feats in dangerous situations. He also performed for a radio show called Rin Tin Tin (1930-1933), which was previously titled The Wonder Dog. After his death at age 13 in 1932, his son, Rin Tin Tin Jr., took over his role in the radio show, and also starred in films from 1932 to 1939. Rin Tin Tin III starred in one film, The Return of Rin Tin Tin (1947), and went on to assist Duncan in training military dogs for World War II. Descendants of Rin Tin Tin have also been trained as service dogs for the disabled. Currently, Rin Tin Tin XII is the official spokesdog for American Humanes Red Star Rescue Team, a program that rescues animals in war zones and from natural disasters.
In 1906, British film maker Cecil Hepworth remade his original movie released in 1905, Rescued by Rover, because the original master reels were damaged. We believe there may have been another reason.
This 1905 classic British short film by Cecil Hepworth features Blair, the first canine star in the movies. This short film takes less than 7 minutes to tell the tale of the heroic Rover. Major props to Blair for his award-worthy performance.
After this film became a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, Rover became a very popular name for dogs in the USA and UK. For more furry fun facts and info about Blair, Hepworths family, and why the film had to be remade, jump to The First 10 Famous Dogs in Hollywood.
If theres ever a Mt. Rushmore for dog stars, Blair deserves his granite face of fame, as the first of the all-time great canine actors. Bravo, Blair!
This historic film became a huge hit and was remade a year later. Read why theres a second version and watch it below—for more fun!
Child Stars: The Dark History of Hollywood’s Golden Age
Lovers of cinema and animals, we have thought of you! Do you know the true story of the four-legged actors who starred in some of the most famous films? Here’s the story of the dog-actors who left their mark on Hollywood!
The dogs have shown great interpretative skills have been so many over the years, to the point of pushing the famous Cannes Film Festival to establish in 2001 the Palm Dog Award – equivalent of the Palme d’Or – for the best canine performer.
At the beginning there was Rin Tin Tin, a beautiful German shepherd with incredible cinematic skills who, in the 20’s Los Angeles, became the protagonist of films, series and comics for children: it is no coincidence that his paw ended up on the Walk of Hollywood Fame. It pioneered the phenomenon of German Shepherd Dogs as actors, such as cops Rex and Jerry Lee. The story of the famous dog actor is truly moving: in 1918, in the rubble of the First World War, he was found by the Californian airman Lee Duncan. The soldier was patrolling the area when he heard a yelp from a shed. The two became inseparable friends … and the rest is history!