Max Linder
Although all too frequently neglected by fans of silent comedy, Max Linder is in many ways as important a figure as Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, or Harold Lloyd, not least because he predated (and influenced) them all by several years, and was largely responsible for the creation of the classic style of silent slapstick comedy. He started out as an actor in the French theatre, but after making his screen debut in 1905 he quickly became an enormously famous and successful film comedian on both sides of the Atlantic, thanks to his character "Max", a top-hatted dandy. By 1912, he was the highest-paid film star in the world, with an unprecedented salary of one million francs. He began to direct films in 1911 and showed equal facility behind the camera, but his career suffered an almost terminal blow when he was called up to fight in World War I. He was gassed, and the illness that resulted would blight his career. Although offered a contract in America, recurring ill-health meant that his US films had little of the sparkle of his early French work, and a brief attempt to revive his career by making films for the recently-formed United Artists (one of whose founders, of course, was Chaplin) in the early 1920s came to little, although these later films are now regarded as classics. He returned to France and killed himself in a suicide pact with his wife in 1925.
Life and death of Max Linder
as Self (archive footage)Searching for documentation about Max Linder, we found in an abandoned house a trunk sealed for...
Movie page
Birth of the Tramp
as Self (archive footage)A look back at Charlie Chaplin's early life and career, from his rough childhood and music hall...
Movie page
Au Secours !
as MaxMax accepts a wager that he cannot remain in a haunted castle for one hour (11 PM to midnight)...
Movie page
Seven Years Bad Luck
as MaxAfter breaking a mirror in his home, superstitious Max tries to avoid situations which could...
Movie page
The Three Must-Get-Theres
as Dart-In-AgainIn this movie, Max Linder parodies the famous novel "The Three Musketeers".
Movie page
Max Juggles for Love
as uncreditedMax wants to marry a lady. Inexplicably she insists she won't marry him until he learns to...
Movie page
Be My Wife
as Max, the FiancéMax is determined to woo Mary, despite her Aunt Agatha's disapproval. Then, Max and Mary become...
Movie page
Max's First Job
as MaxRecommended by a friend of the Ambigu Theatre, Max is summoned to Joinville studios. His first...
Movie page
The Theft of the Mona Lisa
as (archive footage)This German crime drama was based on a true story. Willy Forst stars as a poverty-stricken...
Movie page
Max and His Mother-in-Law
as MaxMax and his young bride attempt to enjoy an Alpine honeymoon, despite the presence of her mother.
Movie page
Max Plays at Drama
as uncreditedWhen Max's friends doubt his acting ability, he invites them to a dramatic theatrical performance.
Movie page
Max Takes Tonics
as MaxMax visits a doctor who prescribes a tonic (Bordeaux of Cinchona) for him to drink every...
Movie page
Max and Jane Want to Do Theater
as MaxMax is a stage struck youth, and because of a deep-seated desire to go on the stage, refuses to...
Movie page
Max Speaks English
as Max"Scene, a first-class railway carriage. Max and delightful girl alone. "May I smoke?" breaks the...
Movie page
Max the Heartbreaker
as uncreditedThe story is about Max who in holiday in Switzerland meets two young American girls. They're...
Movie page
Max Takes Back His Freedom
as Max (uncredited)"Max quarrels so with his wife that the lady leaves him. Our hero then attempts to do his own...
Movie page
Max Comes Across
as MaxThe adventures of Max Linder, some based on real events, some fictional, as he travels by ocean...
Movie page
Le Petit Café
as uncreditedMax is a millionaire who is forced to lead a double-life as a waiter, the result of having lost...
Movie page
Max Takes a Bath
as MaxOn doctor's orders Max buys a new bathtub but things don't work out as planned.
Movie page
Max's Vacation
as MaxMax is invited to join his uncle for a holiday, but he hasn't invited his wife, so he sneaks her...
Movie page
Max's Hat
as MaxMax has been invited to meet with his in-laws and must dress formally, but each hat he attempts...
Movie page
Long-Lasting Love
as MaxAs a struggling artist, Max is not allowed to pay attentions to a girl by her father. Max...
Movie page
Max Wants a Divorce
as MaxMax is forced to choose between losing his newly wedded wife and a fortune. He hits upon a...
Movie page
Chance and Love
as MaxA love sick Max fly to find his love and recover.
Movie page
Max Sets the Style
as MaxMax is late for his own wedding, and, worse yet, has no shoes.
Movie page
Max as a Chiropodist
as MaxComing to visit a girl, Max presents himself as a pedicurist.
Movie page
Troubles of a Grass Widower
as uncreditedA housewife tires of her husband's annoying behavior and returns to her mother. At first, the...
Movie page
The Barometer of Fidelity
as uncreditedThis Max Linder short opens with him and his girl blissfully rowing in a canoe before skipping...
Movie page
Max Skiing
as MaxIn a snowy Alpine district Max takes his first lessons in the art of skiing. He leaves the hotel...
Movie page
Cordial Agreement
as uncreditedMax and his friend, who came to visit him in Paris both fall in love with his new maid. The girl...
Movie page
Max and His Dog Dick
as MaxWhen Max, a newly married man, suspects that his wife may be cheating on him, he gives his...
Movie page
Max Linder Does All the Sports
as MaxMax reads in a newspaper, that Gladys Maxence, a rich American woman, seeks a young sportsman...
Movie page
La Petite Rosse
as uncreditedMax Linder is an ardent suitor for the hand of a somewhat rampageous young lady. The gentle Max...
Movie page
The Water-Funker
as MaxMax is in love with Lili, capricious bride who won't do his will until he has recovered the ring...
Movie page
Max and the Statue
as MaxMax starts out at a costume store to get a costume for a party. He sees a suit of armor and...
Movie page
Max Takes a Picture
as uncreditedHe attempts to take a photo of a woman in a bathing suit (and she's no beauty), waiting while...
Movie page
Max Toreador
as uncreditedMax Linder finds himself obsessed with bull fighting. This seems to echo the nature of the...
Movie page
Max and the Lady Doctor
as MaxMax visits a lady doctor for a chest cold and is alternately anxious and nervous and excited, in...
Movie page
A Farm-house Romance
as MaxMax is informed by his rich uncle that he's tired of supporting him. Instead, he has a farmer...
Movie page
Laugh with Max Linder
as Self (archive footage)Pioneering comedy legend Max Linder wrote, produced, directed and starred in Seven Years Bad...
Movie page
Max and the Donkey
as MaxMax Linder strays further from his usual haunts of situational comedy, far into straight...
Movie page
King of the Circus
as Max Graf von PompadourDirected by Édouard-Émile Violet.
Movie page
The Forced Marriage
as uncreditedAgain Max is forced into marriage. If he doesn't marry soon he won't get any more money from his...
Movie page
C'est Papa qui a pris la purge
as Lover in the streetA man has diarrhea.... a French comedy.
Movie page
The Dentures
as uncreditedMother in law gets a new set of dentures. Despite being initially happy, the family soon...
Movie page
The False Max Linder
as MaxAuguste is cured! The doctor at the asylum said so. Delighted, his mother gives him a few coins...
Movie page
Max Plays the Part
as uncreditedMax sees himself as a great dramatic actor but his friends all think he's talentless. So, he...
Movie page
Max Embarrassed
as MaxIn this one, [Max] is on vacation and wooing a young lady, but she and her cousin decide to play...
Movie page
Max as a Musician
as MaxMax loves a charming girl to distraction, but her father declares that his daughter shall never...
Movie page
Attempted Suicide
as uncreditedSuffering from unrequited love, Max hangs himself from a tree, and ends up hanging for hours...
Movie page
Max Is Convalescent
as MaxTo reassure his fans, Max Linder has been filming with his family at his place of convalescence...
Movie page
Max: Jockey for Love
as MaxMax meets the Countess Duvienne in a very distressing moment, for she has just learned that her...
Movie page
An Agitated Night
as uncreditedIt is Max's wedding night, married to the beautiful Stacia Napierkowska. He and his bride are...
Movie page
Max Wants to Grow
as MaxCommonly confused with Max ne se mariera pas
Movie page
Max in a Taxi
as HimselfA wealthy alcoholic is disowned by his father for his drunken behavior. Now penniless, he takes...
Movie page
I Want a Baby
as uncreditedMax and his wife of three years are happy in most regards but one: they still don't have a...
Movie page
Max Wishes He Hadn't
as uncreditedIn consequence of a first kiss, poor Max finds himself claimed as a property of a persistent...
Movie page
Max in Monaco
as uncreditedThe extremely ludicrous adventures of an intoxicated man aboard a yacht.
Movie page
Max Gets Stuck Up
as MaxThe film begins with Max being invited to dinner with his fiancée and future in-laws. To be...
Movie page
Love's Surprises
as uncreditedA man, his wife and their two sons are having a meal. One of the sons leaves the room pretending...
Movie page
Max Sets the Fashion
as MaxMax, awakening on his wedding morning, discovers that it is close on the hour when he should be...
Movie page
The Wedding Trunk
as MaxMax wants to marry his girl but one man stands in the way. Her guardian. And Max got to find a...
Movie page
Max and the Purse
as uncreditedMax being a gentleman and helping a lady in distress. Max willingly helps the lady recover her...
Movie page
Dogs used as smugglers
as uncreditedWith contraband strapped to the backs of their dogs, smugglers set off to cross the...
Movie page
Au music-hall (At the Music Hall)
as uncreditedA series of comic mishaps in house boxes at a music hall.
Movie page
Max Linder Visits Charlie Chaplin
as SelfRenowned French comedian and filmmaker Max Linder visits Charlie Chaplin in 1917.
Movie page
The Man in the Silk Hat
as Self (archive footage)A documentary with many excerpts from the films of French movie pioneer Max Linder, narrated by...
Movie page
Max in the Convent
as uncreditedIn this three-reeler, the young lady with whom he is in love is sent to a convent to get her...
Movie page