picture studio empolyed dogs and
other animal stars. Throughout
the 1920’s, four-legged stars like
Strongheart, Lightning and Rin Tin
Tin stared in countless serials and
feature films. Rin Tin Tin was a
larger-than-life German Shepherd
rescued from the battelfields of
World War II. Soldier Lee Dunkin
adopted and trained the studious
German Shepherd to perform specific
unique tricks on command. After his
return to the United States, Dunkin
would walk the dog up and down
sections of Hollywood, having he
dog perform for people who might
cast him in their latest production.
Like with most Hollywood success
stories, one day they were in
the right place at the right time.
Silent film director Irving Cummings
was shooting The Man From Hell’s
River (1922) and struggling with a
tempermental wolf during a crucial
scene. Dunkin assured the director
that his German Shepherd would not
only follow commands to perform
the necessary stunts, but could also
pass as a wild wolf. Rin Tin Tin was
cast, performed as promised, and
began his sucessful career. During
this same period, Warner Brothers
Studios was struggling financailly and
was on the verge of bankruptcy. After
having seen Rin Tin Tin in action,
they gave him his first starring role
in 1923’s Where the North Begins. The
film was a hit and nudged Warner
back from the financial brink. Warner
Brothers featured Rin Tin Tin in 24
more films and he became known
as “the mortgage lifter” by
industry insiders. The world
fell in love with the majestic
and talented German
Shepherd. He had his own
fanclub, studio dressing
room, special meals and he
was nominated – and nearly
won – the Best Actor nod at
the first Academy Awards
in 1929. Although it said
that Rin Tin Tin received
the most votes for the award,
Academy officals decided that the
award was for human performers and
removed the proficient pooch from
the ballot. The original Rin Tin Tin
passed away in 1932, but not before
fathering over 40 puppies, appearing
in nearly 30 on-screen performances,
and prompting film studios
across Hollywood to feature dogs
alongside their most notable actors.
Over the years, audiences have fallen in
love with canine thespians like Benji,
Petey, Toto, Asta, and Uggie. They
are loyal, brave, funny, challanging,
loving and nearly everything in
between; reflecting the things that we
want to see in ourselves. Not all pups
walk onto the set with the abilty to
“act” – it can take weeks and months
with the right trainer to perfect their
skill. Reknowned animal trainer
Rudd Weatherwax and his brother
Robert trained hundreds of animals
for film and televison. Most notably
they introduced their Collie, Pal, to
audiences as Lassie. During an event
at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Studios, Weatherwax employed his
highly trained Collie to perform a
stunt in complicated water scene. The
Collie performed perfectly, thoroughly
impressed the studio’s executives, and
a new star was born. Pal became the
very first Lassie starring in Lassie
Come Home (1943). Over the decades
there have been Lassie films, popular
televsion shows, books, and even a
radio show with the beloved Collie.
After Pal passed away, the Weatherwax
family used Pal’s decendants to
portray Lassie throughout the
decades. Even today, Lassie still makes
personal appearances and also has a
line of pet food and care products.
Dogs are by far the most popular
animals we see in movies and
televison, but furry friends aren’t the
only brilliantly trained critters that
make their way onto the screen. In
1995, one of the most popular films
of that year was about a plucky little
pig that wanted to be the best he could
be…even if it that included doing the
job of a sheepdog. The popularity of
Babe wasn’t necessarliy because of it’s
heartwarming storyline – 48 large
White Yorkshire piglets potrayed the
steadfast and lovable Babe, voiced by
late actress Christine Cavanaugh, and
made pigs one of the most desirble
household pets. Everyone wanted a
Babe of their own…not taking into
account that the pigs could grow to
over 300 pounds. Not only did pigs
make their way into homes, they
made their way into hearts! It was
reported that actor James Cromwell,
who potrayed Babe’s owner, became a
strict vegitarian after working with the
surprisingly intelligent and lovable pigs.
Whether it’s boxing cats, heroic
dogs or plucky barnyard animals,
audiences love animals on screen. It
takes a lot of time and dedication to
perfect the tricks and behaviors the
animals perform, but once captured
on film they warm our hearts, inspire
us, often brings us to tears, and
most importanty makes us laugh.
SEPTEMBER 2017
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WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE
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37