Clash of the Wolves (1925)

3 Stars (out of 4)

Top Dog

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Not as well-known as it should be, Clash of the Wolves (1925) is one of the most notable films by one of the biggest stars of the 1920s, Rin Tin Tin. It's a kind of Western about borax prospector Dave Weston (Charles Farrell) who finds wolf Lobo (Rin Tin Tin) and pulls a cactus thorn from his paw. Meanwhile, the evil William Horton (Pat Hartigan) is looking to jump Dave's claim and steal his girl, May (June Marlowe). Rin Tin Tin saves the day. Rescued from France during World War I, Rinty was not only a brilliant dog who could perform any number of on-screen tricks on command, but he was the only four-legged star who actually had a screen presence and appeared to be acting rather than obeying commands. Watching this exciting film will turn anyone into a loyal fan, pushing Lassie and Benji out of the limelight. Its only flaw is the ridiculous comic relief by Heinie Conklin as "Alkali Bill," though these sequences do give the viewer a nice break from the action. A dog named "Nanette" is credited as playing "Lobo's Mate." Kino Lorber released it on Blu-ray in 1923 with a commentary track by historian Anthony Slide, plus a second Rinty feature, his starring debut, Where the North Begins.