Rin Tin Tin: Caryl of the Mountains (1936)

Directed by Bernard B. Ray, Caryl of the Mountains is a brisk, low-budget Northern adventure from Reliable Pictures, starring Rin Tin Tin Jr., Francis X. Bushman Jr., and Lois Wilde. Set against the snowy backdrop of the Canadian wilderness, the film blends crime drama, Mountie heroics, and the loyal bravery of a legendary canine.

Plot Summary
When Uncle Jean, a fur trapper in the Canadian woods, is murdered by a corrupt businessman named Enos Colvin, the only witness is Jean’s dog—Rinty, played by Rin Tin Tin Jr. The killer was after a stash of embezzled bonds that Jean had hidden in his cabin hearth, sent there by his niece Caryl to protect them from theft.

Wounded during the attack, Rinty escapes and alerts the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, including Constable Jim (Francis X. Bushman Jr.). As suspicion falls on Caryl for the embezzlement, Jim must navigate orders, loyalty, and the truth—while Rinty recovers and ultimately leads the way to justice.

Cast Highlights

• Rin Tin Tin Jr. as Rinty, the heroic dog
• Francis X. Bushman Jr. as Constable Jim
• Lois Wilde as Caryl
• Josef Swickard as Uncle Jean
• Earl Dwire as Inspector Bradshaw, one of the few actors praised for bringing depth to his role

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

• Shot at Big Bear Lake, California, the film was marketed as a “Northern” rather than a Western
• Also released in the UK under the title “Get That Girl”
• The film features atrocious Canadian accents and some Mountie procedural errors, but it’s all part of the charm
• Rinty is wounded by a revolver shot but miraculously recovers to help solve the crime—classic Rin Tin Tin heroics
• Assistant director R.G. Springsteen would later become a prolific director of B-Westerns