The Return of Rin Tin Tin (1947) User Reviews

Boys and dogs are meant to be

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 30 March 2014]

In this Eagle-Lion Picture, young Bobby Blake stars as a war orphan boy who war widow Claudia Drake has adopted as he was the son of an old friend of her's who went to Europe with her husband. The kid has certainly seen enough of the bad in the world and is withdrawn. Drake has him spend the summer with Father Donald Woods at a mission.

While there Bobby befriends a runaway German shepherd with the name of, you guessed it Rin Tin Tin. It's even on the dog's identification so you know he belongs to someone. He belongs to Steve Pendleton.

However boys and dogs are meant for each other and you know that this will come about as it always does in movies.

The Return Of Rin Tin Tin did not get a big budget return to the silver screen. It's a cheaply made film that is in bad need of restoration if someone wants to bother. It's sincerely made though.

Doggie love is the best medicine.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 5 December 2016]

A despondent boy; a playful pup. They make the best of instant friends, and the cure for loneliness is discovered. The boy is Bobby Blake, aka Robert, the former Our Gang kid and future star of "In Cold Blood" and TV's "Baretta". Long before scandal, long before public judgment. He's suffering here from the sudden death of his family, living at a mission with monk Donald Woods, and cared for by Claudia drake who tries but fails to get Blake to open up to him. Nothing helps, but the mysterious arrival of Rin Tin Tin III, already owned by trainer Steve Pendleton. Rin and Bobby instantly bond, and when Pendleton shows up, Blake faces despondence once again.

The first Rin Tin Tin movie in 8 years, this was the only feature for the third in line to the throne of the original silent star. It's sad to realize that the other two had passed on, but the legacy continues to this day. The film is moving and often filled with Kleenex moments. Blake and RTT III instantly bond, and one moment where bobby bares his soul to the faithful German Shepard is truly moving. The color is poor, however, so many scenes appear much darker than they were meant to be. There's enough to keep you entertained, though, as well as important lessons to be learned. Parents should be showing films like this to their adolescent children instead of giving them electronics to play with.

Mediocre Film Available Only In Atrocious DVD Release

[gftbiloxi · 1/10 · 16 April 2005]

Robert Blake had been out of the public eye for a decade when, in 2005, he stood trial for and was acquitted of the murder of wife Bonnie Bakley. The trial renewed public interest in both his life and film career, and quite a few long-forgotten Blake films began to make their way to the home market. One of these was the 1947 film THE RETURN OF RIN TIN TIN, which starred the then-thirteen year old Blake in a standard "a boy and his dog" story.

As a movie, THE RETURN OF RIN TIN TIN isn't bad, but neither is it anything to write home about. The story concerns Paul (Blake), a war orphan, who is sent to live with "kindly Father Paul" (Donald Wood)--but the traumatized boy proves unreachable until he encounters canine star Rin Tin Tin (the third German Shepherd of that name.) Unfortunately, no sooner does Rin Tin Tin lure Paul out of his shell than the dog's true owners come to call.

At present the film is only available to the homemarket via a release by Digiview. The DVD case describes the film as "digitally remastered," but don't you believe it. The color is bleached and the picture is so fuzzy that it is often difficult to tell whether you are looking at Blake or at Rin Tin Tin! And in terms of atrocity the sound isn't far behind. No matter how inexpensive the price may be, THE RETURN OF RIN TIN TIN isn't worth it. Avoid it like the plague.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Rin Tin Tin was a Star with true breeding.

[NativeTexan · 10/10 · 28 April 2002]

Rin Tin Tin was a great Star, a great Actor, and was the love of my childhood life before getting my own dog. My brothers and I never missed one of his shows or movies. RTT is ably supported by Bobby Blake and Donald Woods, two wonderful actors in their own rights. Rin Tin Tin single-handedly made German Shepherds (or Alsatians, if you prefer) the most popular dog in America. The inexpressible nobility, love, and the overwhelming intelligence in those beautiful brown eyes give ample support to the belief that people should aspire to be more like dogs.