Works by Max Linder (64)

Troubles Of A Grasswidower (Vive La Vie de Garçon)

Max has a wife who tires of his annoying behavior and returns to her mother. At first, Max is quite pleased to have the house all to himself. But he quickly discovers that even the most basic domestic chores can be fraught with difficulty. Introduces the Crazy Max dance

Pedicure for Love/Unwilling Chiropodist (Pédicure Par Amour)

When papa steps in, Max must stop romancing the daughter and pretend to be a pedicurist.

An early version of what seems to have been a sort of signature skit for Linder: it was remade in 1914, and then a portion of the remake appears in another film as the catalyst that spawns a Max Linder imitator. This version includes André Deed (as the real pedicurist, who ends up romancing the wife), Pathé's star comic before Linder. Deed's exit from Pathé gave Linder his opportunity for stardom. This may be the only surviving film where they are seen together - although with the poor quality and distant camera, actually not much can be seen.

Beginning of the Serpentine Dance (Création de la Serpentine)

Here Linder pays his dues in a way familiar to many comics: as merely the comic lead-in to the girlie show.

Max and the Flirtometer (Le Baromètre de la Fidélité)

The Linders are given a long tube filled with clear liquid and told that their fidelity is proven as long as the liquid stays clear (no swabs or body fluid samples required!). It is missing the opening scene, as described at the Film: Ab Initio blog, which notes “Its brand of humour makes it a forerunner for the screwball comedies of the thirties and forties”. Features the Max Slide.

In Love With The Bearded Woman (Amoureux de la Femme à Barbe)

This is not Max, the dapper and loveable upper-class twit, but appears to be the same schoolboy in His First Cigar (same uniform and still living with parents), who now has lovesick eyes for big bush.

The Surprises of a Flirtation (Les surprises de l'amour)

A father and two sons pursue the same dame. Even though this release date is not in Linder's early period, this is not Max, the dapper and loveable upper-class twit.

Max's First Job (Les débuts de Max au cinématographe)

Max applies for a job as an actor, and perfectly captures that mix of jitters and groveling that marks any job-seeker.

Max Takes A Bath (Max prend un bain)

Max does a nervous twitch so effectively, it is almost contagious. When doctor prescribes hot baths, Max buys a tub which, hilariously, leads to a wall-scaling chase, as first seen in the 1906 "The ? Motorist", adding to the the wonderful absurdity of it all.