User Reviews

MAX AND HIS DOG is one of the more entertaining short comedies starring the great Max Linder. Here, our hero is deeply in love with a pretty girl named Hanni; or at least he's highly attracted to her. Hanni apparently has feelings for Max as well, yet finds it difficult to choose between him and another lover. She finally marries Max, but then receives a note from the rival that declares: "My Dear, I have now realized that you are the only and true love." Having discovered the note by accident, Max gives his dog Dick orders to keep an eye on his wife. Being man's best friend, of course Dick is loyal; when the lover arrives at Max's home while the latter is at work, the dog calls his master through a telephone and signals that Max must hurry home.

Max's suspicions seem to not have been unreasonable. Upon his arrival home, he finds Hanni and the lover passionately embracing one another. Had this film been the product of Mack Sennett's Keystone-studio in America, a rather cartoonish fight would certainly have developed at this point; however, Linder's style is more subtle. Though he is at first shocked, he quickly calms down, smiles as if almost to pity the couple on the bed, and gives Dick orders to bring his wife's suitcase. After the couple's departure, Max invites his dog to dinner; the last shot has them both enjoying a good meal and each other's company. Granted, Max is now without a wife, but the friendship with Dick is presumably far more sincere than his marriage ever was.

When Max Linder made this amusing little one-reeler in 1912, he was in his late twenties and at the peak of his popularity; he'd starred in hundreds of short comedies already, and many more were still to come. Sadly, not that many of these are currently available, but MAX AND HIS DOG can be found on the DVD Comedy With Max Linder from Grapevine Video, the print being in relatively good shape considering its age.

Max Linder was a film comedian who predated the famous silent comics, though sadly he's pretty much forgotten today. Part of this might be because his career was cut short because committed suicide--part may be because most of the films of his competitors (Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd) exist today--while less than 20% of Linder's are available even in abbreviated versions.

"Max and His Dog" is not one of Linder's best nor is it an especially lengthy comedy, but it's still worth a look--especially because the super dog in this one predates Rin-Tin-Tin and Lassie! The film begins with Max and another man wooing the same lady. Eventually the lady agrees to marry Max, but a short time after the wedding, her eyes start to stray--back to her other old lover. So, Max uses his brilliant dog to investigate this and get the goods on the cheater! This is a decent comedy, but I think it's most worth seeing for the final scene between Max and his dog--which is quite cute. Short but sweet.

I'm not a dog person, far from it, but I sure like Max's dog! We find Max and another suitor at a young lady's house. She can't decide between the two men, but eventually does decide on Max. Max, needless to say, is overjoyed, but his joy turns to less than joy as she's not too nice once they've tied the knot. He leaves for work one day, but before he does, he takes his dog aside to tell him to let him know if his wife is up to any hanky-panky. That dog is very well-trained. Sure enough, the wife's lover comes over and the dog hustles to the phone and does all the things you had to do in 1912 to make a call (no cellphones, then!). Once he's done this, the dog barks into the phone and Max rushes home to find his wife in the arms of another man. He sends her packing! In the final scene, Max is enjoying breakfast at his table. His dog is there, too, with a napkin tucked gently in his lap. They both drink from the same milk bottle. I was surprised by how much I liked this film. As I said in the beginning, I'm not a dog person, but I love Max' dog! It's worth a look!

A brilliant Max Linder comedy short: certainly one of his best. This one is laugh-out-loud funny all the way through, from Max's facial expressions when he must give up his girl for her other suitor -- though he's clearly getting his sweet talking just right -- as she can't decide between them, to every bit of great comedy with the dog.

***SPOILERS** Given orders to warn Max if the other suitor turns (though now the girl is Max's wife) -- to give him a call, the dog does so after checking on the elicit pair. The dog tells him all about it, to every bit of which Max reacts appropriately. He comes over and is about to strike them down, but gets hold of himself and instead leans in laconic style against the door frame waiting for them to notice him, and waves away his rival's card for a duel.

Max is oddly happy at the turn of events, looking quite gleeful to be rid of his wife. We see why in the next shot, as Max is sitting at the breakfast table with his dog on another of the chairs in a raised position that puts the dog at just the height another person would be, across the small table. Max treats the dog as if they are a couple, comfortable in each other's company, although no human would have that many sugar lumps in the coffee!

The brief moment when the dog turns a little to camera as if to acknowledge this status is a scream, the funniest moment in a little gem of a short comedy.