Review of Max Takes Tonics

Max Linder was not only a master of physical comedy (creating lots of gags later imitated by almost everybody else) but also a great director in the "primitive mode of representation". Almost every scene is done in only one long shot but every bit of the frame is fully utilised with very studied actors' movement and creating different spaces within the frame.

The film mixes very successfully slapstick with farce and even social commentary with hilarious results thanks to Linder's wonderful performance and visual precision.