The Movie Career. Back in the U.S. after WWI, Lee Duncan trained Rin Tin Tin daily to perform stunts and follow commands. It wasn’t long before his talent landed him roles in silent movies in the 1920’s. In those films he often portrayed a courageous dog fighting Indians in the old West or at the front in the First World War. He ended up appearing in 27 Hollywood films, which were so profitable that Warner Bros. paid him almost 8 times that of a human actor. During his eight years Rin Tin Tin was with that studio, Lee made the equivalent of 5 million dollars. Rinty became so popular and developed such a dedicated fan base that he helped to popularize the German Shepherd as a favored American family pet. Next: The WWII Years.
