Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend

Throughly enjoyed reading the life story of Rin Tin Tin and his offspring. His great grandson was a big part of my childhood and probably the reason I love shepherds to this day. This is not just a tale of movie dogs but of dogs in general... how they moved from outside farm hands to movie heros and then into homes as beloved pets. Dog lovers will love this book!

This book received the lowest review in my book club out of the dozens we have read. The author inserted her own experience with Rin Tin Tin and the memory far too much. This book could have been cut down about 100 pages and been left with something decent. It was painful to read.

Susan Orlean does a superb job laying down the story of Rin tin tin within its historical context. I loved the Orchid Thief and this book does not disappoint. I am going to try to get my dad to read this who loves biographical books.

Rin Tin Tin The Life and The Legend, Susan Orlean's book on Rin Tin Tin ,has made me a very happy camper,not only is it a good book, its a wonderful take on one of my favorite's All I can say was it made me laugh,cry and could not put it down .book.........She did a good job of taking me back to ,MY HERO....

Being a German Shepherd owner and lover, Rin Tin Tin is a must! This book does not just concentrate on his movies, but how he got into movies, his start in life, his unbreakable bond with his owner and where his lines are today. This book makes you appreciate the breed much more than you already do.

Já está bem distante o ano de 1976, quando comecei a pedir para minha mãe avisar-me o horário em que o Soldado Honorário Rin Tin Tin iria dar seu show na televisão preto e branco lá de casa. Desde então, seguindo a boa tradição de meu avô, tornei-me um fã dos Pastores Alemães. Apesar de nunca ter tido a chance de possuir um, Dachshunds, Pastores de Shetland e Corgis me mostraram todo o companheirismo, carinho, alegria e verdadeiro amor que um cão pode nos trazer. O livro se Susan Orlean traz uma bela história de amor e perseverança entre um cão e um homem, Lee Duncan, que, da tragédia das trincheiras da Europa trouxe um filhote cuja linhagem iria encantar as famílias de mais de setenta países com verdadeiros contos de heroísmo e caráter. Quem, no Brasil, ainda guarda no coração as aventuras de Rusty e Rin Tin Tin, deve comprar este livro, que, certamente, emocionará a todos.

Documentary covering a World War II soldier finding Rin Tin Tin as a puppy in Germany, crossing the administrative issues to bring him home, and the subsequent training that led to a movie and TV legend that included many generations of his heirs.

The author apparently spent 20 years compiling every reference ever made about Rin Tin Tin, his owner and anyone associated with his heirs. Unfortunately, neither the author nor her editors seem to understand how that more words and facts do not necessarily translate into meaningful and enjoyable reading.

I am sorry I wasted my time and money on this one.

RinTinTin represented an era in our history...a comfortale, homey, oldfashioned entertainment era. The history of RinTinTin,the evolution of movie and TV entertainment,and the great compassion of one man, Lee Durand, the trainer for his dogs were all very interesting. .

I greatly enjoyed reading this book, even though my memories of watching the old TV show were not very clear. It was interesting to learn not only about Rinty but the tangential subjects (dogs in the cinema, dogs in the war, the history of dog obedience training, etc.) as well. Parts of the book were very touching emotionally, too. I am now going to rent some of the DVDs of the old Rinty films just to see what the book described. The only downsize was the writing style; I did not find not particularly literary or cohesive.

Great read. I hadn't known anything about Rin Tin Tin, but a friend recommended it, and I really like Susan Orlean's writing. I bought it for a present too. The book arrived in good time and good condition. I would recommend it.

For every fellow German shepherd dog owner as I, we already know that we own a very special breed, but this book surely proves how right we all are! Ms. Orlean not only writes about the original Rin Tin Tin, but we learn much about other prominent GSDs before and after Rinty, including his descendents. I recommend this book to everyone, even cat owners!

Based on several reviews about this book(not including the store), I expected to learn about the original Rin Tin Tin and later dog actors who played him. I was disappointed because other than learning the heart rendering beginnings of the original dog, his owner and trainer, there was little more about the dogs. It all focused on the people and studios involved. Also, if you are hoping to see alot of photographs you will only find seven in the entire book. One is a knick knack of a german shepherd. However, Susan Orlean is a gifted writer and she doesn't fail in that respect.

The story of Rin Tin Tin begins in France, during World War I. Lee Duncan, who is never happy unless he has a pet, finds the puppy, along with its siblings and mother, in a bombed out German training kennel. We learn how the puppy got his name, and how, upon the war's end, Duncan takes the puppy and its sister home to America. Duncan discovers he has a knack for training dogs. The movie is in its infancy, and Warner Brothers is just starting out. Duncan convinces them to star Rin Tin Tin in a movie, and it's a big hit. The dog excels as an actor and even wins an Oscar, until those presenting it decide it should be given to a human actor instead.

Of all the silent movies Rin Tin Tin stars in, few remain. "Clash of the Wolves" is the best preserved and shows off the dog's acting and athletic ability. His roles are always serious, with human actors as minor characters. When talkies take over, the use of animals is discouraged because they don't talk. Nevertheless Rin Tin Tin's fame is kept alive, through Vaudeville and later through television.

German Shepherds didn't exist until just before WWI. Because of Rin Tin Tin's publicity, the breed became popular, and conflict grew between those who bred the dogs for show--thus weakening the breed--and those who bred them for work--keeping the breed strong. Also public attitude towards dogs was changing, from viewing them as working livestock, to enjoying them as pets.

The story could have ended with Rin Tin Tin's death. The author is more thorough than that. She carries us through the years of Rin Tin Tin's legacy. Other dogs take over, mostly sons, grandsons, and so forth. Others profit from the legacy, or try to. Lee Duncan wanted Rin Tin Tin to go on forever. And it seems he is.

Years of research went into developing this book. It's well written and moving. The reader may end up wishing for their own Rin Tin Tin puppy. I ended up more observant of a dog's performance. I saw a movie last night, a serious drama, and had to marvel at how expressive a gold retriever was. Great performance.

So, if you have any questions about Rin Tin Tin, chances are good this book will contain the answer.

"What lasts? What lingers? What is snagged by the brambles of time, and what slips through and disappears?..Maybe all we do in life is just a race against this idea of disappearing."

Susan Orlean's book about her childhood hero is a surprisingly a deep consideration of the need to hold onto something bigger than ourselves and the desire to immortalize our heroes. Her story is about the real Rin Tin Tin, the man whose life Rinty 'gave meaning to', and the people who worked to share Rinty's story as an example of courage and valor and goodness.

It was Rinty's permanence that intrigued Orleans. Movies and films made Rin Tin Tin a shared legend that crossed generations over the world. Rinty had the ability to convey emotion and was nearly nominated for an Oscar. He was one of the earliest and most successfully merchandised media icons. With The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin came Apache fort play sets, lunch boxes, even the Beyer figurine that Orlean vividly remembers sitting on her grandfather's desk.

In France during World War I America soldier Lee Duncan was in a bombed out town when he discovered a German Shepard bitch and puppies left behind by the Germans. As a child Duncan's mother had to leave him in an orphanage which gave him stability and care, for which he was eternally grateful. Lee empathized with the dogs and saved them, keeping a male and a female pup for himself. He named them Nanette and Rin Tin Tin after locally made dolls that were worn by soldiers as good luck charms.

With the end of the war Lee was determined to bring his pups back to the States. "I felt there was something about their lives that reminded me of my own life," Lee wrote. "They had crept right into a lonesome place in my life and became a part of me."

Back in America, Lee nursed Rinty through distemper. He could no longer face his old job selling guns; they brought back memories of the buddies who didn't come home. He couldn't stand being indoors and took Rinty into the Sierras. He taught Rinty commands and tricks.

In the 1920s the German Shepard Strongheart was appearing in movies. Lee wondered if he could 'make his hobby pay' and developed a story idea for a film starring Rinty. He walked the streets of 'Poverty Row' in Hollywood trying to sell his movie idea. A small studio, Warner Brothers, liked his idea and they made the first Rin Tin Tin movie which made Lee's and the Warner's fortunes.

When Rinty's movie career faltered Lee sold the idea of a television program to Bert Leonard and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin was born. Bert later sold his rights to Naked City and Route 66, but held on to Rin Tin Tin still hoping he'd find another venue for the immortal dog.

Lee was megalomanial about his dog. His wife and daughter were second to Rinty. Bert turned down lucrative offers for productions he didn't think were worthy of the Rin Tin Tin image; he died impoverished. Lee's family packed up all the Rinty mementos and left them behind with friends. Daphne Herford who had bought several dogs from the Rin Tin Tin line tried to keep the legend alive. She and Bert waged a legal battle over the rights to Rin Tin Tin.

The book is a joy to read, at once a trip down memory land and an exploration of the human desire to create something lasting.

I liked this book more than I expected to. German Shepherds are fine dogs, but my preferred breed is the Belgian Malinois, a super souped-up version of this group of herding dogs. When compared to the lithe, extremely flexible, over-the-top craziness of a Mal, most GSDs are pretty staid and dull, especially the sloped-back, modern American version of that breed. (Sorry, all of you GSD aficionados, but that’s just the way it is with me.) I heard Susan Orlean interviewed when her book first came out, and since I had watched "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" as a child on TV, the story interested me.

I enjoyed the tale of the first Rinty’s life and those of his successors, some related by blood and others only in spirit, and I could identify with the passionate attachment that his owner, Lee Duncan, had for his original dog and this legacy. (People seem to think I am more than a bit “out there” in my devotion to my “Maligators.” Of course that is not true.)

But this dog really did seem special--one-of-a-kind, a German Shepherd as they were originally meant to be, before breeders ruined them through in-breeding and selecting for silly cosmetic traits that have little to do with the original purpose of this fine working dog. Rin Tin Tin had a nice straight back and he was around 80 lb., far smaller than the huge dogs often found today. He was athletic and stable, working almost to the end of his days instead of breaking down with hip and eye problems in his prime. No wonder people around the world admired this animal and remembered him throughout their lives. It is sad that his great success led inevitably to the downfall of his breed in this country. (There are still fine GSDs in Europe, but they are “serious dogs” and most require a knowledgable handler, one who knows how to manage and appreciate a true working dog.)

Along with the saga of the Rin Tin Tins, the author wove in the stories of his owner, Duncan, and many others who became obsessed with this legend. She also explained how her own attitudes and life events were influenced by her childhood memories of the TV Rinty, and how intensely she was drawn into this group of near-fanatics during her extensive research for writing this book. She believes that this story could transcend the dogs’ lives to touch many of us quite profoundly. Rin Tin Tin actually represents an ideal of hope and fortitude, one that hasinspired many ordinary and extraordinary people to believe in something beyond themselves and to hold to that belief even in the face of significant personal sacrifice. In the background of Rin Tin Tin’s tale was the changing culture of America from the end of WWI until the present, a moving panorama of our collective history.

I enjoyed this book, and I learned from it. The audiobook was read by the author. At times her tone could be just a bit annoying, but over-all she was able to convey the meaning of her words more effectively than a more talented, but less involved, professional reader. I was entranced enough by her writing and performance to purchase DVDs of "Where the North Begins" and" Lighthouse by the Sea," two of the original silent movies which starred the first Rin Tin Tin. That dog really did have exceptional character, more than I saw in the TV version I remembered so fondly from my childhood, and certainly more than one sees in many of the sadly modified German Shepherds of today. I admire that kind of character in my dogs and my friends; it is indeed rare.

There are three main characters in Susan Orlean's epic bio-history "Rin Tin Tin:" the dog of the title, both in his original incarnation and in his descendents; Lee Duncan, who adopted the first Rin Tin Tin as an orphaned puppy from the war-torn foxholes of France; and Susan Orlean, journalist, New Yorker essayist, and obsessed Rin Tin Tin biographer, who spent 10 years gathering the detailed information she shares in this book.

Some of the reviews of Rin Tin Tin have been a tad snide. Perhaps that is because Orleans injects so much of her own history, personality, and emotion into the story. Most journalists, especially the old-fashioned kind (like me) believe that inserting one's own thoughts, prejudices, experiences, psychological foibles, etc., is inappropriate in journalism. Traditional journalism still follows that guideline, although the unfair and unbalanced kind of journalism runs roughshod over that tradition. So-called "new" journalists, like Orlean, do not seem bound by the conservative view that it's important to suppress your own biases when writing and reporting. In some cases, the highly personal approach works. In this case, it's a mixed bag.

Lee Duncan is an inarguably fascinating character, though, as Orlean makes clear, he remains as inscrutable to the reader as he remained to her, even after she scoured every piece of paper he wrote, that was written about him, or that was written about Rin Tin Tin. Duncan was abandoned by his father as a little boy, and for several years he lived in an orphanage when his mother could not afford to care for him and his sister. Animals become the light of his life, and, from the time he was able to bring the puppy home from France to California, he spent his life believing that finding Rin Tin Tin in that unlikely foxhole was his, and the dog's, destiny. They became a gifted team -- clearly, Duncan had an uncanny talent for training animals, as he proved throughout his life, and Rinty was an exceptionally intelligent and capable animal. Duncan's tireless diligence in knocking on doors in Hollywood to find silent film roles for Rinty hit paydirt, and the dog became the most popular actor in the country. Rin Tin Tin was even nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award, but lost to a human when studios decided it would be mortifying for a dog to win an Oscar.

What Orlean does impressively well in this book is set each historical scene as, over the decades, Duncan, the various Rintys, and the other major characters live out their lives both in the public eye and, more often, in grudging obscurity. Her research is intensely thorough, from interviewing every person alive who might have had a connection to Duncan and Rinty, to finding and watching sometimes obscure silent films featuring dogs, to reading reviews from the 1920s and the rest of the 20th century, to traveling both throughout the country and abroad to track down film records and other background. Much of this is fascinating stuff, from learning about Rinty's "rivals" like Strongheart and other dogs, to getting to know Bert Leonard, a producer who, after Duncan's death, "inherits" the mantle of Rin Tin Tin's protector and promoter, to understanding that, despite his two marriages and one daughter, Duncan was a family man only in the sense that he financially supported his mother, his sister, and his wife as best he could (sometimes in luxury, sometimes hand-to-mouth.) Duncan's real "family" was Rinty and his puppies, and his driving obsession throughout his life was to promote the story of his life with his dogs.

Orlean's personal role in this epic seems to have its nascence in her childhood attachment to a Rin Tin Tin figurine that her successful immigrant grandfather displayed on the desk in his office. The figurine, made by the Breyer company, which also manufactures toy horses, was the one toy her grandfather would not let her and her siblings touch. Since she was a huge fan of the 1950s TV show "Adventures of Rin Tin Tin," that figurine was the one toy she wanted, of course, and it haunted her memories for years. Ten years ago, she happened to notice a mention of Rin Tin Tin when she was reading about animals in Hollywood, and just that mention spurred her to start the decade of research and writing that resulted in this book.

Is it all a bit too much? Yes and no. So much of the information, and Orlean's perspective on the characters in the story, is absolutely fascinating, and her research and understanding of her subject are so deep and varied, that one is held spellbound by the intertwining of history and her characters. But it must be said that there are many times in the book when Orlean's exhaustive research and reporting is truly exhausting. The obsessiveness of all the characters -- for example, Bert Leonard was still trying to promote a feature-length film about Rinty and Duncan when he died in his 80s -- and, frankly, of Orlean, becomes wearying. In late August or so, The New Yorker published an article by Orlean that is drawn from this book. If you can find it, that may be all you really need to know about Rin Tin Tin.

Admittedly I am not through the entire book, but reviewing a book after you skimmed it seems a betrayal of the premise of a review to the readers.
I am finding the book fascinating. It is well researched. By her own admission some of the places Orlean tried to visit seemed like visiting a celebritie's grave site -- could they give her clues or background. Years ago I read about Strongheart in the book by J. Allen Boone called Kinship With All Life and wondered if Stronheart was Rin Tin Tin. Orlean refers to this book in her writing as well.
I like the historical references talk of what was happening during that time the economy, the depression, WWI, and the effects it had on people -- not unlike today. True it wasn't just about the dog. It was also about the movie industry and the animal's caregivers. What author doesn't interject themselves into their books editorially?
This is a book that covers Rin Tin Tin and all his decendants a time period starting in the early 1900s. It's good to me to read something about history, animals and the movie industry that doesn't involve gruesome details.

I've always remembered the TV show "The Adventures Of Rin Tin Tin" very fondly, and the first time I watched a clip of the opening on YouTube, I immediately teared up(just like I did when I revisited the Triple R Ranch with Spin & Marty). I read Rin Tin Tin Story probably when I was in high school in the late 60's, and sort of tucked him away until I heard an interview about Susan Orlean's new book on NPR. I read the reviews on the store, and was overjoyed when I went to the PO and found this book waiting for me from the the store Vine Program....I'd forgotten I'd requested it.
This grabbed me from the start. From the heartbreaking early life of Lee Duncan, who found Rinty in the ruins of a shell-damaged German army kennel in Sept 1918, to the more recent battles in courtrooms over the use of the Rin Tin Tin name, the author has crafted a very readable and enjoyable book.
I don't remember seeing any of the 1920-30's era Rin Tin Tin movies, I'm one of the Baby Boomers who was glued to the TV set when the opening strain of Fort Apache's bugler blowing "Colors" told me it was time for "The Adventures Of Rin Tin Tin". I wanted the Rusty Halloween costume, but was happy as heck with my Ft Apache Playset(from Marx).
This book delves into more than just the "Life & legend" of Rin Tin Tin. It tells a quick history of the German Shepherd dog breed(I'm surprised the author doesn't mention when "Alsatian" was adopted to lessen the connection with the Kaiser and the Huns during WWI), and takes to task a pet peeve of min about Shepherds, namely the fad to configure dogs with sloping hindquarters.
The book also gives quite an insight into Lee Duncan, Rinty's friend,(and who seems to have been a fine person), as well as the TV show's producer, Burt Leonard, and the relationship between the two disparate men. I never knew that Leonard also originated some of my other favorite shows of my youth, namely "Circus Boy"(with Micky Dolenz and Noah Berry, Jr) and "Rescue 8"(and a couple of others that I stay up for, "Route 66" and "Naked City". Orlean also delves quite well into the rivalry between "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" and the TV show "Lassie".....but the quote from Burt Leonard says it all "Rinty was a real dog, while Lassie was a character from a book". Whatever.
The final section of the book deals with the battles Bert Leonard fought attempting to get the story of Lee Duncan and Rinty made into a film, and his conflicts with a German Shepherd breeder and handler in Texas, who was attempting to keep the Rin Tin Tin bloodline alive. The good news is that they battled out of love(and the better news that Disney couldn't get their hands on Rin Tin Tin).
All in all, if you're a fan of Rin Tin Tin, German Shepherds, or Hollywood history, this will probably be right up your alley. I've a friend who's had a few Shepherds over the years I've known him, & I'll look forward to lending him this....but I'll want it back.

You may never have heard of Lee Duncan. You have certainly heard of the cultural phenomenon he created, Rin Tin Tin. Duncan, besides making a dog star for the generations, had the chief goal of having Hollywood turn his life into a movie. That still could happen, I suppose; after all, one of Susan Orlean's books, _The Orchid Thief_, was made into a quirky and unforgettable film, _Adaptation_. But if Duncan were still around, I bet he'd settle for the fine book Orlean has produced about him and his dog, _Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend_ (Simon and Schuster). Stories about beloved dogs are a dime a dozen, but Rinty was beloved by the nation and the world, and for decades. He was not just a dog star. Orlean writes, "Rin Tin Tin has always been more than a dog. He was an idea and an ideal - a hero who was also a friend, a fighter who was also a caretaker, a mute genius, a companionable loner. He was one dog and many dogs, a real animal and an invented character, a pet as well as an international celebrity." Rin Tin Tin was a fully successful dog, with a wonderful relationship with his keeper; Duncan was successful with him, but not nearly so successful in his encounters with humans. Orlean has told their stories with sympathy, but also (as in _The Orchid Thief_), has injected herself into the story and has reported her own feelings as part of it. She is never center stage, though, and her subjectivity only makes the story a little more universal. Rin Tin Tin affected everyone he encountered.

Lee Duncan was born in 1893 and grew up in California, almost without parents. He did have a dog for a while, though, and his attachment to this dog, and to his successive ones, were to be his deepest relationships, more than those to people. He signed into the Army for World War I and was sent to France, where he found Rin Tin Tin as a member of a litter within a bombed-out kennel. He somehow got the dog back to the U.S., and begin training him in Los Angeles. Film of Rin Tin Tin jumping a barrier almost twelve feet high came to the attention of the fledgling Warner Brothers, and helped make it a big Hollywood studio. Rinty became the most well-known film star in the United States, and came close to winning an Oscar, thwarted only because the Academy changed the rules after the votes were in, ensuring that a human won. Rin Tin Tin died in 1932, but as Orlean reminds us, he has never died: "I believe that there will always be a Rin Tin Tin because there will always be stories." There were obituaries and memorial tributes and even a one-hour radio show. Duncan floundered, and it was only a couple of decades later that Rin Tin Tin again became a star. A pushy producer, Herbert B. Leonard, didn't care about dogs, and Duncan didn't care about television. Duncan was mostly interested in getting his dog (a successor but not necessarily a descendant) back into the movies, especially a movie of Duncan's own life. Leonard convinced Duncan to consider a television series, and he was right; "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" debuted in October 1954, and brought the dog spectacular world-wide success once again.

Duncan would go on to take Rin Tin Tin for a successful road tour. He is no longer with us, and German shepherds went into a dip because of inbreeding and because of the bad press when they were used as weapons against civil rights marchers. The flame is being kept alive, though; at the El Rancho Rin Tin Tin in Texas, Daphne Hereford owns the current Rin Tin Tin, and there are still people who are interested in having a dog from the famous bloodline. The story of Rinty and Duncan is full of fortunes lost and gained, families united and separated, and lawsuits won and lost, but it is mostly about all the good traits we bestow upon dogs in the stories we make about them, the devotion and heroism we'd like to find in ourselves, too. Orlean's book is lots more than a man-and-his-dog story, and benefits from her personal involvement, digressions, and essay-style. And maybe, just maybe, it will result in Duncan's dream, a movie biography of him and his beloved companion.

Admittedly I am not through the entire book, but reviewing a book after you skimmed it seems a betrayal of the premise of a review to the readers.
I am finding the book fascinating. It is well researched. By her own admission some of the places Orlean tried to visit seemed like visiting a celebritie's grave site -- could they give her clues or background. Years ago I read about Strongheart in the book by J. Allen Boone called Kinship With All Life and wondered if Stronheart was Rin Tin Tin. Orlean refers to this book in her writing as well.
I like the historical references talk of what was happening during that time the economy, the depression, WWI, and the effects it had on people -- not unlike today. True it wasn't just about the dog. It was also about the movie industry and the animal's caregivers. What author doesn't interject themselves into their books editorially?
This is a book that covers Rin Tin Tin and all his decendants a time period starting in the early 1900s. It's good to me to read something about history, animals and the movie industry that doesn't involve gruesome details.

I've always remembered the TV show "The Adventures Of Rin Tin Tin" very fondly, and the first time I watched a clip of the opening on YouTube, I immediately teared up(just like I did when I revisited the Triple R Ranch with Spin & Marty). I read Rin Tin Tin Story probably when I was in high school in the late 60's, and sort of tucked him away until I heard an interview about Susan Orlean's new book on NPR. I read the reviews on the store, and was overjoyed when I went to the PO and found this book waiting for me from the the store Vine Program....I'd forgotten I'd requested it.
This grabbed me from the start. From the heartbreaking early life of Lee Duncan, who found Rinty in the ruins of a shell-damaged German army kennel in Sept 1918, to the more recent battles in courtrooms over the use of the Rin Tin Tin name, the author has crafted a very readable and enjoyable book.
I don't remember seeing any of the 1920-30's era Rin Tin Tin movies, I'm one of the Baby Boomers who was glued to the TV set when the opening strain of Fort Apache's bugler blowing "Colors" told me it was time for "The Adventures Of Rin Tin Tin". I wanted the Rusty Halloween costume, but was happy as heck with my Ft Apache Playset(from Marx).
This book delves into more than just the "Life & legend" of Rin Tin Tin. It tells a quick history of the German Shepherd dog breed(I'm surprised the author doesn't mention when "Alsatian" was adopted to lessen the connection with the Kaiser and the Huns during WWI), and takes to task a pet peeve of min about Shepherds, namely the fad to configure dogs with sloping hindquarters.
The book also gives quite an insight into Lee Duncan, Rinty's friend,(and who seems to have been a fine person), as well as the TV show's producer, Burt Leonard, and the relationship between the two disparate men. I never knew that Leonard also originated some of my other favorite shows of my youth, namely "Circus Boy"(with Micky Dolenz and Noah Berry, Jr) and "Rescue 8"(and a couple of others that I stay up for, "Route 66" and "Naked City". Orlean also delves quite well into the rivalry between "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" and the TV show "Lassie".....but the quote from Burt Leonard says it all "Rinty was a real dog, while Lassie was a character from a book". Whatever.
The final section of the book deals with the battles Bert Leonard fought attempting to get the story of Lee Duncan and Rinty made into a film, and his conflicts with a German Shepherd breeder and handler in Texas, who was attempting to keep the Rin Tin Tin bloodline alive. The good news is that they battled out of love(and the better news that Disney couldn't get their hands on Rin Tin Tin).
All in all, if you're a fan of Rin Tin Tin, German Shepherds, or Hollywood history, this will probably be right up your alley. I've a friend who's had a few Shepherds over the years I've known him, & I'll look forward to lending him this....but I'll want it back.

You may never have heard of Lee Duncan. You have certainly heard of the cultural phenomenon he created, Rin Tin Tin. Duncan, besides making a dog star for the generations, had the chief goal of having Hollywood turn his life into a movie. That still could happen, I suppose; after all, one of Susan Orlean's books, _The Orchid Thief_, was made into a quirky and unforgettable film, _Adaptation_. But if Duncan were still around, I bet he'd settle for the fine book Orlean has produced about him and his dog, _Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend_ (Simon and Schuster). Stories about beloved dogs are a dime a dozen, but Rinty was beloved by the nation and the world, and for decades. He was not just a dog star. Orlean writes, "Rin Tin Tin has always been more than a dog. He was an idea and an ideal - a hero who was also a friend, a fighter who was also a caretaker, a mute genius, a companionable loner. He was one dog and many dogs, a real animal and an invented character, a pet as well as an international celebrity." Rin Tin Tin was a fully successful dog, with a wonderful relationship with his keeper; Duncan was successful with him, but not nearly so successful in his encounters with humans. Orlean has told their stories with sympathy, but also (as in _The Orchid Thief_), has injected herself into the story and has reported her own feelings as part of it. She is never center stage, though, and her subjectivity only makes the story a little more universal. Rin Tin Tin affected everyone he encountered.

Lee Duncan was born in 1893 and grew up in California, almost without parents. He did have a dog for a while, though, and his attachment to this dog, and to his successive ones, were to be his deepest relationships, more than those to people. He signed into the Army for World War I and was sent to France, where he found Rin Tin Tin as a member of a litter within a bombed-out kennel. He somehow got the dog back to the U.S., and begin training him in Los Angeles. Film of Rin Tin Tin jumping a barrier almost twelve feet high came to the attention of the fledgling Warner Brothers, and helped make it a big Hollywood studio. Rinty became the most well-known film star in the United States, and came close to winning an Oscar, thwarted only because the Academy changed the rules after the votes were in, ensuring that a human won. Rin Tin Tin died in 1932, but as Orlean reminds us, he has never died: "I believe that there will always be a Rin Tin Tin because there will always be stories." There were obituaries and memorial tributes and even a one-hour radio show. Duncan floundered, and it was only a couple of decades later that Rin Tin Tin again became a star. A pushy producer, Herbert B. Leonard, didn't care about dogs, and Duncan didn't care about television. Duncan was mostly interested in getting his dog (a successor but not necessarily a descendant) back into the movies, especially a movie of Duncan's own life. Leonard convinced Duncan to consider a television series, and he was right; "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" debuted in October 1954, and brought the dog spectacular world-wide success once again.

Duncan would go on to take Rin Tin Tin for a successful road tour. He is no longer with us, and German shepherds went into a dip because of inbreeding and because of the bad press when they were used as weapons against civil rights marchers. The flame is being kept alive, though; at the El Rancho Rin Tin Tin in Texas, Daphne Hereford owns the current Rin Tin Tin, and there are still people who are interested in having a dog from the famous bloodline. The story of Rinty and Duncan is full of fortunes lost and gained, families united and separated, and lawsuits won and lost, but it is mostly about all the good traits we bestow upon dogs in the stories we make about them, the devotion and heroism we'd like to find in ourselves, too. Orlean's book is lots more than a man-and-his-dog story, and benefits from her personal involvement, digressions, and essay-style. And maybe, just maybe, it will result in Duncan's dream, a movie biography of him and his beloved companion.

This book shows how each generation of Rin Tin Tin had a public role that was relevant for its time. In the Hollywood silent film era he starred under his own name. World War II, he led in the Dogs for Defense recruitment effort. In the dawn of TV era, he helped develop the TV drama.

There are lots of colorful people in this story. Lee Duncan through luck, pluck and total devotion, took Rin Tin Tin (and his mother and still nursing him and his siblings) from a battlefield of World War I and made him an international star. Herbert B. Leonard (Bert), the director of the TV series (as well as "Naked City" and "Route 66") may be the most intriguing and the second most devoted to Rin Tin Tin. After the series was cancelled he spent a small fortune to preserve the Rin Tin Tin image and keep his story in the public eye.

Jannettia Propps Brodsgaad and her daughter Daphne are BIG fans and as eccentric as people come. There is the strange Paul Klein who appears as Lee Aaker (the child star of the TV series). There is an incredible happenstance involving the real Aaker that eventually brought Daphne and Bert together in the courtroom.

I appreciated the author's personal comments of how she felt at various times in her research, for instance at the birth and burial sites of Rin Tin Tin, of meeting people who knew Lee Duncan, of finding documents and memorabilia.

From the text it seems that there are many photos to be had, but there are very few in the book. The ones included could use some labels. For instance, the one on p. 100, which I presume is Lee Duncan (is it?) but which Rin Tin Tin? What year? Also, there is no index.

This is a very pleasant and informative read.

I came to this book, not as a fan (I saw TV program only a few times) but through the NY Times Best 100 Books of 2011. I see how this made the list.

Rin Tin Tin is layered with stories and story-telling: Susan Orlean relaying her own lifelong fascination with one particular dog, turning her sharp-eyed journalism on the story of one particular canine. Then there's the story of soldier and trainer Lee Duncan and his tireless efforts to bring one special dog to the American stage. Then there's the Hollywood machine giving Rin Tin Tin a role, a character, a part.

Rin Tin Tin is about hopes and dreams in America. It's about myth-making and reinvention. It's about star-making and it's about persistence and the power of shared experiences. It's about the rise of movie-moving and the rise of television and, the biggest surprise to me, the history of dogs being used in war.

Orlean's writing about the use of animals in war could have been a book all by itself and makes for a terrific contrast for what's to come, how the nation could focus so much emotional energy on one particular animal--an animal that few would "meet" (although Rin Tin Tin did tours) but only experience in darkened movie theaters.

What makes a star? Can dogs be as different as people? (Dog lovers know the answer is an unequivocal `yes.') Can you repeat success with a similar dog? How does one animal become a national fixation? (When the first Rin Tin Tin, newscasters interrupted regular programming to announce the death.)

Orlean's writing style is engaging. I've seen the complaints in other reviews that Orlean writes too much about herself--but I think this tale is a perfect vehicle to talk about her passion for the subject and how her grandfather's figurine of a Hollywood dog could hold so much meaning. If her passion for the subject drives such relentless pursuit for detail, I'm all for it.

Most of us, at least of sufficient age, have heard of Rin Tin Tin, either from the television show or movies, but what was it, a dog, a character, a dream, a myth? As author Susan Orlean tells us, he was a bit of each.

Rin Tin Tin was a German Shepherd rescued from a battlefield in France in 1918 by an American soldier, Lee Duncan. Duncan brought him home and turned him into a movie star, a cult and a dynasty. Starting in silent films, the original Rin Tin Tin became the idol of millions. In the silent films the animals were often the stars whereas in talkies they assumed more supporting roles. As time passed Lee came to realize that owners usually outlive their dogs so Lee designated a Rin Tin Tin, Jr. and a series of successors.

Through Lee and a series of dogs Rin Tin Tin remained in the public eye, becoming a spokesdog for products, such as dog food and the figurehead for the War Dogs program during World War II. After the war the Rin Tin Tin Dynasty adapted to television with a program set in the West that ran for several years. Eventually Lee Duncan died and the Rin Tin Tin legacy was preserved by Bert Leonard, who had promoted the "brand" for several years, including the television program. As that was winding down, Jannettia Brodsgaard bought a Rinty descendent and established a line Texas. Sadly, like so many American stories, the courts would become involved in determining who had the rights to the Rin Tin Tin name and property.

Besides what Rin Tin Tin meant to the public, it became a life's work and a life's companion for his discoverer, Lee Duncan and some others who were captured in its orbit. That is a story that is both heartwarming and a little sad as one realizes how Rinty became a part of a family and supplanted normal family relations.

Besides the story of a dog, a character, a dream and a myth, this book tells the story of dogs and how their role in American life changed, in part because of Rin Tin Tin, Lassie and other canine stars of the silver screen. On these pages we learn that the German Shepherd breed was established in 1899 and became popular in the United States primarily as a result of Rin Tin Tin, just as Lassie would do the same for collies and another actor-dog would make Rover a leading name for pets. During the reign of the Rin Tin Tin dynasty dogs would shift from being primarily work animals to being household pets.

An aspect of the story that came as a total surprise to me is the history of the war dogs: those who identified the living from among the dead, carried messages, cargo and bombs and served their countries along with human soldiers. The recruiting of dogs for service in both world wars and their use in subsequent conflicts opened a whole new chapter in military history.

Whether you are a lover of dogs, movie and television folklore or just history, this is a book you will not want to miss.

Aptly named, Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend, this book tells the story of this super-hero's mythic life as he morphed from a sable-coated, black-faced working dog to the black and tan, saddle-backed German Shepherd Dog of the 1950's TV screen. The author, Susan Orlean, shatters any sacred-held notions that the brand name, RIN TIN TIN® reflects anything but a series of German Shepherd Dogs that were carefully selected throughout the years to carry on the trademark that Lee Duncan originated in his early Hollywood days.

Even with the secret revealed that multiple dogs actually represented Rin Tin Tin in movies and television and that much of the hype around the Rin Tin Tin dogs was intended for publicity, these facts still don't detract from the allure of the legacy of this famous dog who for decades reigned in the hearts of people all over the world.

This lovely book is rich in detail and facts ranging from the first Rin Tin Tin Lee Duncan brought back from France in World War I, to the lineage of German Shepherd Dogs now found in Crockett, Texas. Susan Orlean even relates her personal story to the dogs and milleu of TV Rinty, as she runs down the timeline in the life of Rin Tin Tin. The historical parts of her text would serve well to teach history to students these days, yet it was her subjective voice reminiscing about growing up in the 1950's, when Rin Tin Tin was a TV legend, that fascinated me.

"I began to understand that what drew me to Rin Tin Tin most of all was his permanence-how he had managed to linger in the minds of so many people for so long when so much else shines for a moment only and then finally fades away. He was something you could dream about. He could leap twelve feet, and he could leap through time."

There is so much for a wide audience to glean from this book. There is the world history found in the fine tribute to the war dead of 1918; a beautiful testament for the lives lost in France. There is the description of Hollywood glamour, the depiction of the rise and fall of celebrity status for dog as well as human stars, there is Lee Duncan's biographic information, who we find out was so much more than just Rinty's trainer, and for aficionados of The Fifties, you have a review of that decade. There is much to devour and digest in this book.

Subliminal childhood messages no doubt manifested in my life when I first decided to pick out a tiny, sable-coated, black- faced, German Shepherd Dog for my companion almost ten years ago. This is a great book to curl up with by the fireplace with your loyal dog at your feet...or in your lap.

by Martha Meacham
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

We children of the 1950s and the early 1960s remember him well: the courageous German Shepherd dog who protected the boy Rusty in the days of the Old West. But "Rinty" had an earlier life, as a German Shepherd puppy rescued from the carnage of "the Great War" by Leland "Lee" Duncan, a dog whose hit adventure films saved the Warner Brothers studio.

I was almost as fond of THE ADVENTURES OF RIN-TIN-TIN TV series as I was of LASSIE, so in general I found this book enjoyable. We go behind the scenes of the original Rin Tin Tin's silent career, and of the sound serials done by his son, and then into the story is woven the tale of Herbert Leonard, the man who brought Rin Tin Tin to television. It is occasionally a sobering tale, as in the hardscrabble, bleak childhood of Duncan, the thwarting of Leonard's dream to create a new Rin Tin Tin series, and the problems of Daphne Hereford in retaining the Rin Tin Tin name. For the canine lover there is also an examination of the changing role of dogs in the 20th century and a look at dogs in motion pictures. And for those fans of the television show, there is much material contained about this now-forgotten series, including the bizarre tale of a man passing himself off as child star Lee Aaker at autograph events, and some secrets about the dog himself.

My biggest complaint was that I thought the author inserted her own personality into the narrative a bit too much. Some of this stemmed from her own childhood recollections of Rin Tin Tin (including a statue of the dog owned by her grandfather), which I found understandable; still, I wish there had been less of it. However, to anyone who loved Rin Tin Tin in any incarnation, who is interested in movie dogs, or who are German Shepherd fans, you may find illumination, knowledge, and interest in Rinty's story.

"Rin Tin Tin, the Life and the Legend", shows that an awful lot of research went into writing this book. I found the first part of the book great, it tells the story of a famous and legendary animal that had an exciting life. As far a I'm concerned, the book could have ended with the death of the original Rin Tin Tin. The second part of the book, even though it was thoroughly researched just did not hold my interest and I actually found it boring. The author gives information about the dog's owner and how he tried to keep the legend alive in the years after the original Rin Tin Tin's death. Actually, I found it to be too detailed and it did not hold my interest. There were also very few photographs in the book. I would think that a dog as famous as Rin Tin Tin would have thousands of good photos to choose from. They would have added interest to the book and the story. I give this book 3 stars because Rin Tin in was a famous and legendary animal. However, the rest of the book was a disappointment. -- Valerie Lull, Author, Ten Healthy Teas

Sure, this is a complex and complete history of Rin Tin Tin. But its much more than that. There are peripheral story lines that cover the history of dogs and humans predating WWI. If you want to know how dogs really became entwined in our modern lives, this is the story.

Have you ever wondered why Americans decided to train their dogs? Prior to Rin Tin Tin, it was generally thought that dogs could only be trained by strong individuals who were specialists. Helene Whitehouse Walker was so inspired by seeing dogs trained for silent movies that she decided to undertake, single handedly in a grass root effort, to bring obedience training to the masses. AKC originally turned her away! It was not long after that she and Blanche Saunders traveled across the country with 3 Poodles performing obedience demonstrations. Very soon, obedience training classes were booked solid across the country. How fascinating that two women were the solid underpinning of our comprehensive culture of obedient dogs living inside the home with their humans!

The author continues to bring to light many tidbits about dogs in America. She also incorporates a fascinating history of the film and tv industry. Have you ever wondered why the original Rin Tin Tin was a very dark coated dog but gradually most German Shepherds were bred to be light coated? Rin Tin Tin, the original movie star, was very dark and the lights required to light him properly were extreme. Lee Duncan decided that future Rin Tin Tin's should be bred with lighter colored coats so they would show up better on the screen. Thus, the reason you see so many blondish colored GS today.

Lee Duncan's life was intertwined with the fortunes and failures of Hollywood, and yet, what he really enjoyed the most was to spend time with his dog Rinty. No one else who was intimately involved in the original Rin Tin Tin was as devoted to "dogs" as he was. He traveled that path alone with Rinty. But the impression Rin Tin Tin made on millions of people world wide changed forever how we feel about dogs. Generations after Rin Tin Tin had died, Americans still know who he is. So I think we can say that Lee Duncan unknowingly perpetuated Rin Tin Tin's memory for eternity, but not for the reasons he thought it would be. What he really did was change how we feel about the emotional intelligence of our companions. We all wanted the same thing with our dogs because we saw that relationship Lee had with Rinty.

I listened to the audio CD version of this book, as read by the author. I understand why she wanted to read this book. But her delivery was a bit flat at times and I wish she had expressed her obvious emotional attachment to the story a bit more. The story line also jumped around, moving forward and backward in time, enough to sometimes confuse me for a bit. But I enjoyed the side stories as much as the Rin Tin Tin story.

For dog lovers, this book is like a history book on dogs and belongs in their libraries as a reference book.

Obviously, there wasn't much of real consequence for Susan Orlean to share about the original Rin Tin Tin wonder dog of silent movie fame. This is probably why she spent years laboring over the book. The book is by no means bad. In fact, there are some great pieces of information regarding the original dog. However, the title is somewhat misleading. Instead of the tagline "The Life and the Legend" something like "And the People He Touched" may have been more representative of where the Author chose to go once the original Rin Tin Tin faded from view. If you're up for reading about how some average Joes turned a buck on a pup then everything after the passing of the original Rin Tin Tin is for you. However, for me, the somewhat early climax of the book was when Lee Duncan takes one final trip with the original dog and the crushing loss that follows. For those who purchase the book to discover more about the original wonder dog, its clear that the very first Rin Tin Tin was quite exceptional. Miss Orlean successfully communicates how he seemed to have had a greater understanding of human language than most dogs are capable with a complement of considerable physical prowess. In fact, it may not be a stretch to imagine him as being to dogs what Mozart was to humans. Orlean does reveal Lee Duncan to be less than a great trainer (this becomes crystal clear when his later Rin Tin Tin is abruptly turned down for the TV series) yet the original wonder dog could perform and behave in front of a camera in ways most human actors would envy. Sadly, there isn't much information to document the dog's actual brainpower or any recorded behavioral evidence that may have gauged his gifts. So here, I suppose, is where the legend kicks in. Frankly, I have to admit to expecting much more. A few more photos wouldn't have hurt either.

In a bombed out German village, a lonely American soldier finds a mother dog and her pups. They are alone among the rubble and he saves them all, a moment of compassion in the aftermath of a gruesome war. Back in the camp, Lee Duncan cares for the animals and eventually keeps two of the puppies, farming the rest out to fellow soldiers. Lee, who grew up fatherless and at one point in his life, dropped off in an orphanage by his mother, is a man who has an easier time attaching to animals than humans. He forms a tight bond with Rin Tin Tin and the story chronicles their return to America and Rin Tin Tin's film career.

The book details not only the bond between Lee and Rin Tin Tin, but also America's changing relationship with dogs. According to Susan Orlean, as America industrialized and people moved from the farm to the city, their view of their dogs shifted as well. Dogs were no longer seen as workers, but as companions, no longer serfs to their human lords, but now loyal knights.

In the new movie industry, dogs were serious stars of silent films, not just faithful sidekicks and Lee Duncan knew that Rin Tin Tin had star power, so he took his dog to Hollywood and knocked on doors, literally. The book follows Lee and Rin as their star brightens and fades, from the big screen to the small screen and all the bumps in between.

According to Orlean, with each generation of puppies, Lee tried to recapture his original relationship with the original Rin Tin Tin, but while some of the puppies had their merits, none had the power of the original. The same thing happens in the narrative structure of the book. The further the story moves from the original Rin, the more the pace slows and gets bogged down into a recounting of lawsuits, merchandising and promoters trying to recapture their former glory.

Since the success of Marley and Me in 2008, the books about dogs have been fast and furious. There is no shortage of books featuring dogs as companions, heroes, healers, and soldiers. What is the source of this dog mania? In the age of over-information there are no more heroes. The moment any notoriety is gained, any feat accomplished, there begins the quest to root out the darkest places of that person's heart. No one in unimpeachable, no human can rise to the heights we demand.

The humble dog has become a source of endless projection, if you make a dog a hero or a savior, he will never fall from grace.