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Book Review: Max Linder – Father of Film Comedy


Max Linder is one of the great visionary comedians of the silent screen, founding a basis from which stemmed some of the most significant contributions to the genre, not the least of which is the work of Charlie Chaplin. Linder and his wife committed suicide, leaving an infant daughter behind. The daughter, Maud, spent her adult life trying to restore her father’s name to the prominence it deserved. Maud just died this year (2017).

Linder’s life and career and documented in Snorre Smári Mathiesen’s new book “Max Linder – Father of Film Comedy from Bear Manor Media.

Mathiesen effectively makes a case of Linder’s importance by examining his work in his native France, conquering the stage and eventually exploring motion pictures the first decade of the 20th century. His early appearances in the films of Georges Méliès led to his further discovery of what cinema could do. A film like “The Skater’s Debut” was largely improvisational, and set the foundation from which a lot of screen comedy extended. Linder initially looked upon cinema as tangential to his theatrical career, but eventually understood what film could offer his career as a comedy actor and creator. One of the most important and fascinating aspects of this book is how well the author documents this period of Linder’s career, as many of the films are inaccessible.

Linder’s influence on Chaplin, his becoming a worldwide comedy star, and personal life troubles including illnesses and insecurity are all covered, as is the history of cinema’s development as all of this was going on. The book is very layered, fascinating, and informative. Perhaps we are more familiar with Linder’s later films in America, including his feature “Seven Years Bad Luck” (Essanay, 1921). These films are also discussed as something of a culmination of his career.

Charlie Chaplin’s meeting with Linder is documented on film and has been seen by most of us interested in film history, but further details are provided here by the author. We understand the level of which Linder’s work influenced Chaplin’s and how he continued to consider the Frenchman and inspiration.

Linder’s sad troubles are discussed with detail and seriousness, including an earlier suicide attempt that was defined by some as a mere accident. Soon afterward, their attempt was successful.

The importance of Max Linder’s work can not be overstated, and Mathiesen’s book is a truly essential study that gives us history, biography, information, and assessment. The filmography offered at the end of the book is remarkable in its detail as being the most complete one on Linder’s films currently available.

“Max Linder – Father of Film Comedy” backs up its lofty title most effectively. It is a book that should be included in the library of anyone with an interest in screen comedy’s history, and is a must for libraries and research centers.

The book is available here.

James L. Neibaur
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