The One about Max Linder

kndy · Post by **kndy** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:42 pm

Greetings,

I was wondering if a lot of Max Linder's shorts are lost or are they available and have not been released on DVD yet?

I just finished watching "Laugh with Max Linder" and watching "Seven Years" Bad Lucky" and the four short sketches and I was hoping to watch more from him.

Also, does anyone know if his daughter's documentary on Max titled "The Man in the Silk Hat" is available?

T0m M · Post by **T0m M** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 6:27 am

There's a Rare Films of Max Linder DVD with 16 titles on it. I haven't seen it and the two reviews on Amazon are diametrically opposed, so be forewarned.

Europa Films apparently has released the feature film, The Three-Must-Get-Theres, which was also available on the out-of-print laserdisc, Pop Goes the Comic, along with That's My Wife and Seven Years Bad Luck.

The abridged version of Be My Wife and Troubles of a Grass Widower appear of a few complilation discs but you already have them on Laugh with Max Linder.

New, VHS copies of his daughter's documentary are apparently still available though Amazon at reasonable prices.

kndy · Post by **kndy** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 1:00 am

T0m M wrote:There's a Rare Films of Max Linder DVD with 16 titles on it. I haven't seen it and the two reviews on Amazon are diametrically opposed, so be forewarned.

Europa Films apparently has released the feature film, The Three-Must-Get-Theres, which was also available on the out-of-print laserdisc, Pop Goes the Comic, along with That's My Wife and Seven Years Bad Luck.

The abridged version of Be My Wife and Troubles of a Grass Widower appear of a few complilation discs but you already have them on Laugh with Max Linder.

New, VHS copies of his daughter's documentary are apparently still available though Amazon at reasonable prices.

Thanks Tom!!!

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:20 am

There's also a Grapevine collection of 14 titles which is remarkably similar to the Amazon set mentioned by Tom.
I have the Grapevine and quality-wise it's not one of their better releases (it first came out on VHS) but that isn't surprising with these early and mostly rare films.

Excellent 35mm prints of many Linder shorts evidently do survive in French archives at least, judging from the broadcasts on European TV. Many PD copies in circulation are from narrower gauges, including 9.5mm. I have a few transferred from the rare 28mm gauge including The Man who Hanged Himself which is disturbingly graphic even without considering its semi-prophetic theme.

I can confirm the Cinematheque Collection VHS of The Man in the Silk Hat currently on Amazon for under $7 is excellent quality. It has the English narration, where as a French VHS I used to have had the alternative French narration.

kndy · Post by **kndy** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 3:43 pm

Jonathan wrote:There's also a Grapevine collection of 14 titles which is remarkably similar to the Amazon set mentioned by Tom.
I have the Grapevine and quality-wise it's not one of their better releases (it first came out on VHS) but that isn't surprising with these early and mostly rare films.

Excellent 35mm prints of many Linder shorts evidently do survive in French archives at least, judging from the broadcasts on European TV. Many PD copies in circulation are from narrower gauges, including 9.5mm. I have a few transferred from the rare 28mm gauge including The Man who Hanged Himself which is disturbingly graphic even without considering its semi-prophetic theme.

I can confirm the Cinematheque Collection VHS of The Man in the Silk Hat currently on Amazon for under $7 is excellent quality. It has the English narration, where as a French VHS I used to have had the alternative French narration.

I'm actually curious about "The Man Who Hanged Himself" now..hehe.. Thanks for the information Jonathan!

Derwiddian · Post by **Derwiddian** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 4:58 pm

There are 54 or so Linder titles on YouTube at the notremaxnational channel, often more complete versions and with better clarity than Grapevine's DVD. But brush up on your French or German for the intertitles.

Jim Gettys · Post by **Jim Gettys** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 12:11 am

Maud Linder's "Silk Hat" documentary (VHS, with English narration) is regularly available on eBay, new and sealed, for $4.98 postpaid.

Jim Gettys