The Return of
Rin Tin Tin
(aka THE ADVENTURES OF RIN TIN TIN)
With: Rin Tin Tin III, Donald Woods (Father Matthew), Bobby Blake (Paul), Gaylord Pendelton (Melrose), Claudia Drake (Mrs. Graham)
Plot Outline: Paul, a young boy, suffers from war shock. His parents were killed in the war. His new stepmother sends him to a nearby mission to regain his mental health. A nice German Shepherd called Rin Tin Tin escapes from an evil kennel, and makes fast friends with Paul. Paul and Rin have many adventures until the evil trainer takes Rin back. Rin escapes once more, only to be caught in a barn fire. Eventually, Rin saves the life of his trainer, who finally realizes that Rin and Paul are good friends who should remain together.
***
This haunting, somewhat psychological children's adventure is pretty
nice. Photographed in "beautiful natural color" (aka "Vistacolor") at
Santa Ynez Mission. Ironically, postwar America looks very old,
pastoral, even "European" here.
We begin with strong scenes of our young hero Paul having horrible
dreams/flashbacks of World War II, in which his parents were
apparently killed. The audience, likewise, was getting used to a new
postwar landscape, a vista of hope overlaid with horrible trauma.
This new life of Paul's, with a brand-new "mother", gets off to a rocky start.
The phobic Paul is sent to the Santa Ynez Mission, under the care of
kindly Father Matthew, and gets back in touch with nature, away from
the killing machine called civilization. The horrors of war give way
to the promise of new maturity, as Paul takes care of the animals.
Elsewhere, at the evil Melrose Kennel, a fetching German Shepherd
named Rin Tin Tin seeks a loving owner. Dogs of course are
outstanding, and only the truly evil heart does not respond to them.
Rin Tin Tin escapes the kennel, and roams the colorful California
countryside in search of his new friend.
From first meeting, Paul and Rin get along famously of course, Rin
helping Paul come out of his shell. The treacly Father Matthew spouts
all sort of religious nonsense throughout, and part of Paul's growth
is his religious transformation, illustrated nicely by a long, bizarre
confessional speech he relates to Rin Tin Tin, whilst stroking him.
All ends well, as it should. Unfortunately, many of the key climactic
scenes, such as the daring rescue and the barn fire, take place at
night, and at least in the reviewed print, were virtually impossible
to decipher.
The daytime scenes, on the other hand, especially those at the
Mission, are in garish color, quite exotic and beautiful, not unlike
one of those old linen postcards.
Overall a pleasant if predictable adventure. A young Robert Blake (as
"Bobby Blake") does very well with a highly emotional role. He was
fairly insufferable as Mickey Gubitosi in the later MGM "Our Gang"
shorts, but he's actually pretty darn good here.
Video/DVD availability: VHS (various)
(1947, U.S.) color 65 minutes
Eagle-Lion Films / Romay Pictures
Story by William Stephens
Screenplay: Jack de Witt
Cinematography: Carl Berger
Music by Erdody
Produced by William Stephens
Directed by Max Nosseck
