‘Clash Of The Wolves’/ ‘Where The North Begins’ Blu-Ray Review – Two Daring Adventures From Rin Tin Tin

Filmed in the deserts of California (in what is now the Joshua Tree National Park), Clash of the Wolves marks the cinematic pinnacle of the original Rin Tin Tin, a German shepherd rescued from a World War I battlefield, and brought to America where he became a screen sensation. Rinty stars as Lobo, leader of a pack of wolves hunted by the authorities. Through an act of kindness, prospector Dave Weston (Charles Farrell, 7th Heaven), earns Lobo’s trust. And when a claim-jumper attempts to murder Weston, Lobo performs extraordinary feats to demonstrate the depths of his loyalty. Inducted into the National Film Registry in 2004, Clash of the Wolves is restored in 4K and is presented with a new musical score composed and performed by Ben Model. Where the North Begins is another action-filled drama of friendship and survival, this one set in the snow-covered mountains of Canada. The film was scanned in 2K as part of the Library of Congress’s Silent Film Project, the goal of which is to borrow, catalog, digitally preserve, and ensure the availability of films for public viewing and research. The film is scored by Jon C. Mirsalis, from whose collection the print was sourced.

For thoughts on Clash of the Wolves and Where The North Begins, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/-AF7quHixtY?t=3530]

Video Quality

Clash of the Wolves and Where The North Begins make their Blu-Ray debut thanks to Kino Classics with impressive transfers from lovely restorations courtesy of the Library of Congress. Clash of the Wolves is in slightly better shape with a 4K transfer, while Where The North Begins has been given the 2K treatment. These films are both around 100 years old, yet you will be surprised by how well they have been preserved. The black-and-white photography of Clash of the Wolves is striking in high definition with consistent natural grain intact. Where The North Begins opts for color tinted photography, which likewise rarely fails to impress. There is a fabulous amount of detail revealed with rich textures within the setting and some of the costumes. 

The contrast is decently defined with not much in the way of flicker or significant specks of damage to the print, but admittedly Where The North Begins suffers more in this regard. There are stray, faint vertical lines and stretches of damage to the edges that make a quick appearance without ruining the look of the features. The lighting is a consistent element between these two features so nothing ever appears washed out. The transfer captures a striking amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s composition. Black levels present some fine depth with no excessive occurrence of black crush or compression artifacts. Kino Classics allows these films to look the best that their source will allow. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray presents these films with great DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio tracks that succeed at every turn. Each film is graced with an original score; Ben Model from Undercrank Pictures handles the score for Clash of the Wolves, while Jon C. Mirsalis tackles the track for Where The North Begins. The music is the only element to worry about with these tracks, and it sounds vibrant and pleasant with no clipping or other such anomalies. Silent film fans will be thrilled with the sound quality, as these composers have created tracks that complement the narrative well and with unwavering fidelity. 

Special Features

• Clash Of Wolves Commentary: Film Historian Anthony Slide provides a really insightful commentary track which delves into some analysis of the story, the phenomenon Rin Tin Tin, the known behind-the-scenes details and history of key figures in the production, the filmmaking techniques, the film’s legacy and much more. 

Final Thoughts

Clash of the Wolves and Where The North Begins are very exciting efforts from the iconic Rin Tin Tin, but it is hard to completely shake the feeling that the production was not the safest environment for these animals. Some of the stunts this amazing pup is able to pull off are astounding, and the narratives keep you engaged enough even when he is not at the forefront. Kino Classics has released a Blu-Ray with a grand A/V presentation and an interesting commentary track. If you are a fan of Rin Tin Tin, this is a top tier release for you. Recommended

Clash of the Wolves and Where The North Begins are currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.