The real story of Rin Tin Tin

Among the most famous dogs in history we find Rin Tin Tin, a German shepherd who during the sixties was present in many films and a popular television series. However, his life was not limited to the stardom he achieved in Hollywood, but was also overshadowed by the horrors caused by World War I.

First of all, we must clarify that the name of Rin Tin Tin it actually represents several dogs. The first was found by the American soldier Lee Duncan when he was a newborn puppy, on a battlefield in France, on September 15, 1918. It is said that he was in a military kennel, abandoned by the German army (pioneer in the use of dogs in war).

Few specimens were left alive, although Lee managed to find among the corpses a female German shepherd and her five puppies, of which he rescued two, whom he called Rin Tin Tin y Nanette, like some popular dolls of the time. He bred them and taught numerous tricks, these dogs displaying great intelligence. When the war ended, he took them to America, where he tried to make Rin Tin Tin triumph in cinema and television.

So it was. In 1922 he made his first film, called "Man from Hell's River", and after a few more roles he achieved world fame with "Where de North begins" in 1923, produced by Warner Bros and written by its own owner. It became a great icon of heroism and a popular representation of the American spirit. He died in 1932, causing the tears of the entire country, which even interrupted his radio and television programming to break the news.

His descendants continued in his wake. First Rin Tintin Jr., and then Rin Tin Tin III, who even joined the army during World War II. After that, the collie Lassie would take on greater prominence, but in 1954 Rin Tin Tin became a star again with the television series "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin". Then it was Rin Tin Tin IV who embodied the protagonist, but his abilities for show business were not comparable to those of his background. For this reason, he was replaced by a German shepherd from another breeding line. JR, Whereas the Rin Tin Tin officer was relegated to promotional duties.

In 1959 the last chapter of the series was emitted in the United States, although later it would be restored in color. Nowadays Rin Tin Tin is remembered as one of the great idols of the time, and a great reference regarding the incursion of dogs in the world of entertainment.