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people in the world never traveled beyond their hometown—were In the 1920s, this was still a new country, still something of distributed overseas. But they were. People all over the world were an experiment, trying out the notion that a society could reconcile getting a look—a filmy, imaginary look, but still a look—at life in private desires and ambitions with the demands of community. The the United States. It must have been electrifying. To people in the American identity was still pliable, still taking shape. Many crowded old cities in Europe and beyond, the spaciousness of those Americans had left ancient cultures of permanence and scenes in the American West in particular, with their endless horizon constraints and ethnic identities to join a society where identities line and infinite sky, must have seemed like a glimpse of eternity. were exploded and recombined—who can know how many My grandfather grew up in Hungary but came to the United different religions and back- grounds were represented in audiences States in his twenties, eventually settling in Ohio. His family was well at Rinty’s films in New York City or Chicago or Los established in Hungary, but something had spurred him to leave Angeles? People watching Clash of the Wolves and try to make his own way alone. It was a pivotal choice, might not have talked after the movie about He was one that ended up being a matter of life and death. The how Rinty played out the founding principles everything figurine of Rin Tin Tin that he kept on his desk was such of the nation, but his popularity came from a puzzle to me, but the one thing I took for granted the emotions he inspired, including pride Americans wanted was that he had it because he knew of and enjoyed in the dog’s stubborn, resilient, complex the Rin Tin Tin television show, since as a kid I had no character and an appreciation of his to think they were— idea that Rin Tin Tin existed in any form except for struggles—not just with the bad guys, brave, enterprising, his presence on television. I saw the figurine as some but with himself. evidence that my starchy, old-fashioned, European At the same time, he was bold, and most of grandfather had become American, going so far as absolutely universal. Rin Tin Tin’s movies all, individual. to embrace the popular culture of this new place. But went all over the world. Silent films as I unwound the story of Rin Tin Tin I began to see were easy to distribute internationally. In a dog, even more the dog on his desk in a different way. Although There was no dialogue to dub or need than in a the plastic figurine was definitely merchandise for subtitles—only the intertitle cards from the television show, I now think that human, had to be replaced. In 1927, Jack Warner my grandfather’s fascination with Rin Tin attended a dinner in Vienna and was seated next individuality is Tin began much earlier in his life. I believe to a countess. He introduced himself as a producer. The countess asked which actors he worked with. Warner exceptional; after the fascination took hold in some dark little theater in eastern Hungary when mentioned such luminaries as John Barrymore, but the countall, dogs are he first saw Rinty race across the screen ess seemed unimpressed. Warner was exasperated. Finally he said that he produced all of Rin Tin Tin’s films. From that pack animals, and in one of these 1920s melodramas—the huge western landscape stretching in moment on, Warner recalled, “the name ‘Jack Warner’ meant many of Rinty’s the background, the sky like an unfurling something in Vienna.” banner—and that the dog’s image, with its The fact that the films were distributed around the world plots great promise, even had something to do with had some unanticipated benefits. In 1975, nitrate projection prints his finding the courage to leave home. of Clash of the Wolves, Jaws of Steel, and The Night Cry were Throughout the 1920s, Rin Tin Tin was found in South Africa. Warner Bros. had distributed the revolved photographed constantly. Besides his studio headshot, films to South Africa in the 1920s, and these copies which catches Rinty’s moody gaze in three-quarters were apparently not sent back at the appointed time. around him profile, his most popular picture was one of him Until these films were found, it was believed that making choices posing with Nanette on a large rock by a lake. He was there were no copies of Clash of the Wolves left frequently photographed with celebrities—Ed Sullivan, in existence—like 80 percent of all silent films ever between pack Jackie Cooper, Myrna Loy, director Mervyn LeRoy, produced, it was thought to be just another one mentality and showgirl Evelyn Knapp—and with promnent citizens, that vanished, with not a single copy to be found such as members of the Beverly Hills police department anywhere, including the studio vaults. individual or mayors of various large cities. Lee appears in some of The National Film Preservation Foundation has these pictures, but more often he does not. restored the South African print of Clash of the Wolves, and In some photographs, Rin Tin Tin posed doing the new copy of the film is beautiful. The tones, in black and judgment, human things. He pretended to sign for a ticket white, are rich and deep; the black almost looks like velvet. You an almost at an airline counter, operate a movie camera, can also understand how Rin Tin Tin—with his dark eyes and receive a manicure, and work as a hotel clerk. He dark face—was hard to light properly for a black-and- white impossible was photographed playing golf, snowshoeing, film, and why, in the next generation of dogs, Lee looked for a feat for a waterskiing, and swinging in a hammock. In light-colored animal who would be easier to see. Still, this Rin one popular picture he sits in William McGann’s Tin Tin, the first, is a wonder. He’s not a particularly pretty dog, dog. director’s chair—it has WILLIAM MCGANN stenciled but he is magnetic and engaging. His performance always looks across the back; McGann is seated next to him in natural—a credit to Lee’s training. One advantage of silent films was a director’s chair that says Rin Tin Tin. Another photo, that Lee could direct the dog by voice command, but still, Rinty’s from a Ken-L-Ration ad, shows Rinty with Nanette and two of capacity for learning had to be exceptional. So many of the scenes their puppies. The two adult dogs are sitting upright in chairs at a involve long takes of the dog performing a complicated sequence of kitchen table, as if they are about to eat a meal, and the puppies are actions. Even with voice commands, it’s amazing that you could train sitting on their parents’ dinner plates; in the center of the table is a a dog to do all that. gigantic can of Ken-L-Ration. Before I looked through the Warner Bros. archives, which Much was made of the grand style in which Rin Tin Tin included ledgers recording the studio’s international sales, it had supposedly lived. He snacked on steak served to him in silver bowls never occurred to me that films of this era—a time when most