Warner Bros.: The Rise of a Hollywood Icon
Warner Bros. is one of the largest studios in Hollywood and the world, belonging to the “Big Five” of the film industry alongside names like Disney, Universal Pictures (Comcast), Sony Pictures (Sony), and Paramount Pictures (ViacomCBS). However, since its establishment in 1923, this company has faced many challenges and has had to overcome significant obstacles, particularly during its early years when it was saved by a “four-legged hero” named Rin Tin Tin.
The difficulties during the initial phase of Warner Bros. are detailed in Carla Valderrama’s book This Was Hollywood, published in 2020. Led by trailblazer Jack Warner along with his brothers Harry, Albert, and Sam, Warner Bros. had to navigate through a long period of hardship immediately after moving to the Sunset lot, facing continuous struggles that nearly led the studio to bankruptcy.
According to Jack Warner, the financial challenges were compounded by the inability to attract star talent, coupled with a lack of innovative ideas. The Warner brothers were shouldering a heavy burden while struggling to keep up with expenses, and were forced to rent studios and filming equipment just to maintain operations. Shortly after this move, production head Harry Rapf proposed a bold idea to change the narrative of Warner Bros.: to produce a film featuring a lead character who is a dog.
Rin Tin Tin was the name chosen by the Warner brothers for their “last resort” film, titled Where the North Begins. The co-star was Lee Duncan, the “actor” who signed a contract with Warner Bros. for six months at a salary of $150 per week. To avoid bankruptcy, the studio hastily arranged for Where the North Begins to be a major hit, all while agreeing to share 65% of the film’s revenue.
Rin Tin Tin exceeded expectations, not just at the box office (bringing in $441,000), but also winning acclaim that propelled Warner Bros. into a new era. Warner Bros. eventually decided to extend its contract with Rin Tin Tin and Lee Duncan for another five years, increasing the salary to $250 per week and granting 10% of profits from films they participated in—a substantial amount for that time, especially for a “four-legged actor.”
Darryl Zanuck, one of the most famous screenwriters in Hollywood, was selected to develop the script for Rin Tin Tin’s next film project, Find Your Man, released in 1924. Similar to Where the North Begins, this film continued to be referred to as a “box office bomb” despite its impressive earnings (making $326,000), contributing to the rising fame of Rin Tin Tin. Years later, this canine star continued to be a trusted partner of the Warner brothers in major film projects and was even seen as a “family friend” at the first Academy Awards in 1929.
Nonetheless, Rin Tin Tin’s success did not last long, especially with the advent of talkies in 1927. This star was one of the biggest names in silent film projects. As a result, when the first talking picture, The Jazz Singer, premiered, the fame and appeal of Rin Tin Tin began to wane. The four-legged superstar continued to participate in some of Warner Bros.’ talkie projects before the studio cut ties in December 1929—just six years after he had helped them escape bankruptcy. Despite the challenges of adapting to sound films, Warner Bros. remained determined to stay true to their vision and move towards a future of filmmaking with sound effects and the involvement of human actors.
After leaving Warner Bros., Rin Tin Tin participated in several projects with Mascot Pictures and even made contributions to a radio program. However, on August 10, 1932, this beloved dog passed away unexpectedly at Duncan’s home in Los Angeles. Newspapers at the time reported various accounts surrounding Rin Tin Tin’s death, but no one dared to confirm what had actually happened. To this day, this German Shepherd remains one of the most famous animal actors in Hollywood, with his legacy carried on by his descendants, Rin Tin Tin Jr. and Rin Tin Tin III.
Source: ScreenRant
