This shot from the Rin Tin Tin adventure "The Lightning Warrior," one of the earliest "all-talking" serials from Mascot, didn't look like much at first, but like one of those "magic eye" pictures where you have to let your eyes relax and then the hidden image "magically" materializes, this shot eventually revealed some surprises.
The photo contains a number of the features of Iverson's Upper Gorge, and appears to be shot from the flat area where the Gorge Cabin would later be built — and where a row of condos now stands. The rock features I've noted above have all survived, although in some cases they're a little hard to find nowadays.
The Football, with its distinguishing grass insert, is a well-known feature that survives today as part of the scenery surrounding the Cal West Townhomes. To read more about the Football, please see this previous post.
The Angular Rocks and Split Roof can be found today in the far northeast corner of the Upper Gorge, just below the first row of condos. Split Roof is largely hidden behind foliage now and can be difficult to see, depending on the time of year and the level of growth. Click here to read an earlier blog post with more photos and information about both of these rock features.
Other features seen in the "Lightning Warrior" screen shot did not survive. Lancer Arch, visible near the right edge of the frame, was destroyed to make room for the condos. To read more about Lancer Arch, named for its appearance in "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer," please click here.
The same area is seen several years later in "Thundering Trails," filmed at Iverson in October 1942 for release in January 1943. The rocky area seen in this shot is noted below in the shot from "The Lightning Warrior."
The views of this section of the Upper Gorge that appear in these two productions can be coordinated to gain insights into some of the sets that appeared in the area during the 1940s.
At the time "Thundering Trails" was filmed, the Gorge Cabin was in place, and although the cabin itself does not appear in the movie, a couple of manmade sets associated with it do appear. The cabin set included a fake mine, visible at the right of the above shot, and a stable, a small portion of which is just visible at the left of the shot.
Here's the shot from "Thundering Trails" with the manmade sets noted.
Surviving rock features in the "Lightning Warrior" screen shot
The photo contains a number of the features of Iverson's Upper Gorge, and appears to be shot from the flat area where the Gorge Cabin would later be built — and where a row of condos now stands. The rock features I've noted above have all survived, although in some cases they're a little hard to find nowadays.
The Football, with grass insert, in its contemporary setting
The Football, with its distinguishing grass insert, is a well-known feature that survives today as part of the scenery surrounding the Cal West Townhomes. To read more about the Football, please see this previous post.
The Angular Rocks and Split Roof, as they appear today
The Angular Rocks and Split Roof can be found today in the far northeast corner of the Upper Gorge, just below the first row of condos. Split Roof is largely hidden behind foliage now and can be difficult to see, depending on the time of year and the level of growth. Click here to read an earlier blog post with more photos and information about both of these rock features.
Lancer Arch, as seen in "The Lightning Warrior"
Other features seen in the "Lightning Warrior" screen shot did not survive. Lancer Arch, visible near the right edge of the frame, was destroyed to make room for the condos. To read more about Lancer Arch, named for its appearance in "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer," please click here.
"Thundering Trails" (Republic, 1943): No. 48 (!) in the Three Mesquiteers series
The same area is seen several years later in "Thundering Trails," filmed at Iverson in October 1942 for release in January 1943. The rocky area seen in this shot is noted below in the shot from "The Lightning Warrior."
"The Lightning Warrior"
The views of this section of the Upper Gorge that appear in these two productions can be coordinated to gain insights into some of the sets that appeared in the area during the 1940s.
"Thundering Trails" — Gorge Cabin Mine
At the time "Thundering Trails" was filmed, the Gorge Cabin was in place, and although the cabin itself does not appear in the movie, a couple of manmade sets associated with it do appear. The cabin set included a fake mine, visible at the right of the above shot, and a stable, a small portion of which is just visible at the left of the shot.
"The Lightning Warrior"
Putting together the information contained in the two productions, we can pinpoint the elusive location where the Gorge Cabin Mine was situated, as indicated above.
"Thundering Trails"
This shot from "Thundering Trails" provides another look at the Gorge Cabin Mine Rocks, along with the Gorge Cabin Stable — another feature that the rocks help pinpoint.
Frankie Darro
Child star Frankie Darro, who was 13 at the time "The Lightning Warrior" came out, had the "human lead" in the serial, opposite Rin Tin Tin. Darro, whose parents were circus performers, was an unusually adept action hero even as a kid. He continued his acting career as an adult, and also became a stuntman, working regularly in productions filmed on the Iverson Movie Ranch.
Rin Tin Tin (aka Rin-Tin-Tin, Rinty)
"The Lightning Warrior" was the last film role for Rin Tin Tin, who died in 1932 after a career primarily in silent movies. A number of other German shepherds later appeared in various productions as "Rin Tin Tin Jr.," and it has been said that at least one of these animals — featured in the Mascot serials "The Law of the Wild" (1934) and "The Adventures of Rex and Rinty" (1935) — was in fact sired by the original Rinty.
2 comments:
I Like Rin Tin Tin (1918-1932).
Me too.
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