Les débuts d'un patineur (1907)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Louis J. Gasnier

Writer:

Louis J. Gasnier (writer)

Release Date:

10 May 1907 (France)

Genre:

Short | Comedy

Plot:

Max causes havoc when he joins other skaters on a frozen lake. |

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Max Linder

...

Max

Also Known As:

Max Learns to Skate (USA)
Max Wants to Skate (USA)
Max patineur (France) (alternative title)
Max veut apprendre à patiner (France)
The Unskillful Skater (UK)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent | Silent

Company:

Pathé Frères

Trivia:

This was the first movie in which Max Linder appeared as the charming gentleman dressed in silk hat and mustache, a character who soon made him one of the most beloved comedians on the silver screen before World War I.

Ice frolics still fun!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

No doubt many articles on Max Linder start out with his being source material for Charlie Chaplin, so it would be redundant to continue along those lines. Watching this short French film is watching a true master at work. From facial expressions(including some rare close-ups for this time period) and physical contortions, Linder does it all. This movie is really a one man show, and very much worth the price of admission. The true test of course, can it still make kids of the 21st century laugh, and the answer is a resounding yes! In this humorous exercise in ice skating, Linder conveys many emotions throughout, from frustration, elation and revenge. Most of the time he is the butt of the jokes, but when others are knocked about because of his ineptness we laugh at them as well, with our main character(appearing to be the big bully)soon to be punished by the "tough kids" among the crowd. Then how sorry we feel when Max is rebuked for his exuberance. But that's what makes "Max Learns to Skate" so beloved. The character is real, one whom we can truly associate with.