The first Oscars in 1929 nearly awarded a German Shepherd, Rin Tin Tin, but chose actor Emil Jannings instead to maintain prestige. Rin Tin Tin had starred in 27 films, aiding Warner Bros. financially
Rin Tin Tin’s first movie ‘Man from Hell’s River’ (1922), was a major success, and he was a key figure in Warner Bros. films. (News18 Hindi)
Films and documentaries from across the globe competed for recognition at the Oscars 2025. The Academy Awards, widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honours in cinema, have a fascinating history. Today, we’re sharing an interesting piece of trivia about the first-ever Oscars.
Remarkably, the inaugural Academy Award wasn’t initially intended for an actor, but rather for a dog who had appeared in over two dozen films. However, in a surprising turn of events, the committee ultimately decided to award the Oscar to an actor instead.
This story dates back to the first Academy Awards held in 1929, hosted at the Roosevelt Hotel with a ticket price of just $5. Officially, the first Oscar was awarded to German actor Emil Jannings, making history with this achievement. However, Jannings wasn’t the Academy’s original choice for the honour; Rin Tin Tin, a German Shepherd, was.
Rin Tin Tin: Star Of 27 Films
Rin Tin Tin had a remarkable career, starring in 27 films. His first movie, Man from Hell’s River (1922), was a major success, and he was a key figure in Warner Bros. films.
Many believe that it was Rin Tin Tin’s success that helped Warner Bros. recover from financial troubles, with Man from Hell’s River being a major box-office hit that allowed the studio to pay off its debts. The dog was trained by Duncan, a skilled animal handler.
Fear Of Losing Prestige
Rin Tin Tin’s impressive performance led to him being considered for an Oscar, but just before the awards ceremony, the Academy reconsidered. The committee feared that awarding an Oscar to a dog might diminish the ceremony’s prestige, and they ultimately chose to honour an actor instead.
The Oscars Celebrate All Contributions
The Oscars were created to recognise achievements across all aspects of filmmaking. In the past, most award ceremonies only honoured actors and actresses, but the Oscars sought to acknowledge everyone’s contribution to cinema, including directors, producers, technicians, and writers.
