Blu Ray Review: Rin Tin Tin Double Feature

Kino Lorber has released two of the most significant Rin Tin Tin silent features, continuing to make available historically and culturally important films.

I recall the Rin Tin Tin TV series very well, but only later discovered that the canine’s origins were a series of popular silent features released by Warner Bros in the 1920s. These films saved the studio from bankruptcy and also represented some of the earlier examples of the “family film” regarding a dramatic adventure movie that appealed to both children and adults. Rin Tin Tin remained incredibly popular throughout the 1920s and even appeared in some early talkies until the dog died at the age of 14 in 1932. After that there were several replacement dogs over the years, including the TV series which ran for five years.

CLASH OF THE WOLVES (1925)

The first film on Kino’s blu ray is considered perhaps the best of the Rin Tin Tin adventures. Rinny actually plays a role, that of Lobo, a dog/wolf mix that leads a wolf pack. Lobo is sought by ranchers due to the pack killing cattle to feed their young. They figure if Lobo is destroyed, the pack will disband. Prospector Dave Weston (Charles Farrell) finds the dog injured, removes a thorn from its paw, and wins Lobo’s loyalty. For the remainder of the film, Lobo protects Dave from men trying to steal his claim, and a particularly evil prospector who has designs on Dave’s girl (June Marlowe). The film is filled with action sequences and maintains a rapid pace that adds to its excitement. Henie Conklin provides some fun comic relief. This film was available since the 1950s in 16mm, but a 35mm print was discovered in South Africa and this Kino blu ray is a 4K restoration of the best available preprint material. It is enhanced by a terrific new music score by the always reliable Ben Model. This film was named to the National Film Registry in 2004. It can be considered the quintessential Rin Tin Tin silent drama.

WHERE THE NORTH BEGINS (1923)

This is the first starring role for Rin Tin Tin and was so popular, it started a series and was financially beneficial to Warner Bros. This is part of the Library of Congress’s Silent Film Project where prints of films are obtained from collectors and personal archivists so they can be digitally preserved. This film was provided by Jon Mirsales who also composed the score for this bluray release. This 2K scan of Rin Tin Tin’s origin has its original tints, and is important for its significance as the dog’s first starring role. An original script had been prepared by Rin Tin Tin’s actual owner Lee Duncan, and directed by Chester Franklin, but Franklin used up the budget shooting on location in Canada. Several hands ended up reworking the film, including editor Lewis Milestone, later a top director. After much work, the film was released to enormous success. The print included here offers a very beautiful looking film, nicely scored by Mirsales.

Along with the restorations, Clash of the Wolves also includes a commentary track by Anthony Slide, one of the finest and most respected film historians and archivists. Mr. Slide’s commentary is informative, enlightening, and fun.

The films are available on one blu ray and can be ordered at this link: RIN TIN TIN