Be My Wife

Be My Wife (1921) : Brief Review -

A Max Linder Iconic Comedy. A complete course of Structural Engineering of Comedy situations. This one is not just another regular good comedy flick but an Iconic figure of comedic situations very very smartly engineered. Be My Wife is about Max who is determined to woo Mary, despite her Aunt Agatha's disapproval. His struggle to win her praise, the rival side's attempts to down him and then series of misunderstood events follows. Be My Wife delivered many iconic comedy scenes for the first time. I remember seeing many Bollywood and regional Marathi film stars copying the same style, physical activities and expressions what Max Linder gave in this film in many 80s and 90s movies. That means it took them 7-8 decades to copy this and still they found enough Praise for it despite being so late. Just imagine how iconic and timeless it was then. A big salute to Max Linder, an actor, a writer, a producer and a director for cracking the codes of comedy and nurturing it like his own sons. His writing talent seems like a gift. I mean from where he did he get those ideas of creating such situations which became evergreen in this genre and has been copied again and again for years. With Be My Wife he brings a lovable story and yet makes it so funny like any other storyless mad comedy. A complete hilarious tower where every floor is full of laughter and gags. Even when it is not funny, it is visually stunning. That house structure scene is just outstanding. What a terrific idea it was and how amazingly it is designed, it's all just simply fascinating. Linder and Allen makes a cute chemistry again and we all know how fond were they of each other. Linder as actor is brilliant, Linder as Writer is Great, Linder as Producer is uncompromised and Linder as a Director is sensational. Each and every thing is Linder and each and every thing is Fantastic.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

There is plenty of good material in this Max Linder comedy, and it compares well with some of the short features made by more well-known silent comedians of the era. There is apparently more footage to it that is now lost, but the film as it stands holds together perfectly well, and it works just fine as it is.

The story has Linder coming up with a series of ruses in his attempts to woo his girlfriend Mary despite her aunt's disapproval. Most of the comic ideas work well, and there is also a good variety of material. There are sight gags and slapstick, some familiar ideas (including some seemingly inspired by other comedians of the era) and some original ideas. It builds up to a manic and very amusing climactic sequence that is certainly the highlight of the movie. It's quite good overall.

Max and Mary are in love but Mary's aunt Agatha doesn't like Max and prefers the unattractive Archie. So Max has to resort to a series of tricks to try to get rid of Archie and spend time with Mary. Finally, Max devises a scheme that will allow him to prove to Aunt Agatha that he is more worthy than Archie.

In this second of three films that he made in the United States, Max Linder pulls out all the stops. The man whom Chaplin considered his master shines in almost all the roles (directing, screenplay, production and of course acting). From a simplistic argument as "Max loves Mary; Mary loves Max; aunt Agatha does not want", Linder manages to build a whole complex comic machinery with infernal precision. What a cascade of hilarious gags (the wild dance, Max disguised as a scarecrow); what a flawless sequence of slapstick, the highlight being the hilarious scene of the fight with an imaginary burglar. With so much brilliance deployed to approach her in spite of a surly aunt and a malevolent rival, how could Mary have resisted eternally the proposal of the elegant mustachioed man? To "Be my wife," her answer could only be "Yes!"

Max Linder may not be as famous as other iconic silent stars, but he was really just as reliable as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, or Harold Lloyd. It's not even necessarily a question of quantifying how funny one was compared to another - their best works are very consistent and highly enjoyable, lighthearted with just the right touch of earnestness to the story to help the film stick. Linder's 'Be my wife' of 1921 fits very neatly among that terrific company, giving us one swell bit after another amidst a gently amusing and solid narrative of romance. Right from the start this is simply a joy, and anyone who appreciates older cinema is guaranteed to have a great time!

It's fair to say the actual plot is rather light as Linder's protagonist works to win the heart of sweet Mary despite opposition from both her protective aunt and rival Archie. Within that framework, however, the legend treats us to one fantastic scene and gag after another, an indisputable treasure trove of wit, silliness, and vibrant energy. To that end, as Linder writes, directs, and produces this romp in addition to starring, his full creative control means we can be assured that the brilliant humor of the picture shines through at all possible times. In some scenes more than others there are a lot of moving parts, yet the filmmaker deftly ties them all together into a stupendously fun whole.

Commanding the lead role himself Linder naturally stands out most with a wild performance of gleefully exaggerated expression, self-sacrificing physicality, and selective instances of more controlled, nuanced restraint to provide contrast and a sense of dynamics. We would expect no less, of course, given the stature that he ultimately enjoys alongside his contemporaries. To my delight, though, his co-stars in supporting parts all have their own opportunity to share in the frivolities, with Alta Allen, Lincoln Stedman, and even Caroline Rankin, among still others, all getting in on the ridiculousness at one time or another. Moreover, my commendations to the dog trainer for the production, because "Pal" also has his own delightful moments in the spotlight.

Strictly speaking 'Be my wife' may not be a title to change the mind of anyone who has a harder time engaging with silent fare. While it's all in the name of joyful comedy, the acting isn't specifically of the variety that modern viewers are accustomed to; it is perhaps splitting hairs to say that the plot development is a tad gawky at points, but not untrue. Tiresomely, at one point the script reaches for a fat joke that has not aged well, and in a reflection of the time in which it was made, there are sparing instances of language that today we recognize as racist. Still, scrutinize the feature as we may, this wants only to entertain, and far, far more than not it handily succeeds in that goal. Linder may earn the most credit here with the multiple hats he wears, and his co-stars just behind, but all others involved turned in work that was just as outstanding. The sets are superb, with the design of Madame Coralie's being particularly ingenious, and the stunts and effects that are employed are a blast. Even the costume design, hair, and makeup are not just notably sharp but have their own parts to play in the tableau. To whatever extent the flick has its faults, by and large it's marvelously funny, and holds up much better than not.

It has its weaknesses, and it also has unmistakable strengths. On the balance, though, this movie really is just grand, an enduring comedy classic whose value well outweighs any drawbacks. One should be aware of its most distinct flaws, and broadly it won't appeal to all comers, yet if one is receptive to the silent era and its style of film-making, there's not much going wrong with 'Be my wife.' I assumed I would enjoy it and I most certainly did, and I'm pleased to give this my high recommendation!

I should mention up top that I've seen only an excerpt from this feature film, but if the rest of the movie still exists, and is as good as the clip, Be My Wife must surely rank with Max Linder's best work. The excerpt, which runs about 15 minutes or so, can be found in Kino's "Slapstick Encyclopedia" silent comedy box set, and I feel it's one of that collection's most enjoyable highlights; the same sequence is also included with a new release of Linder material from Image Entertainment, and is certainly among the strongest selections in that set. One can only wonder: where is the rest of Be My Wife?

As it is, the available excerpt stands as a self-contained, self-explanatory sequence, practically a two-reeler by itself. The premise is simple: Max doggedly woos a pretty young woman despite the obvious disapproval of her hawk-faced Aunt, who prefers Max's pudgy rival as a more suitable choice for her niece. Banished from the house, Max dons three different disguises in order to pursue the courtship and thwart the Aunt. Viewers familiar with Linder's American contemporaries may be alternately reminded of Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. Max's determination and high spirits suggest Harold, while the startling sight gags and physicality (not to mention the scarecrow disguise) suggest Buster. Furthermore, the sequence in which Max tricks the Aunt, the girl, and the rival into believing that he has heroically subdued a thuggish intruder -- a sequence in which Max vigorously portrays both himself and the thug -- is worthy of Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin called Linder his "Professor," and those who wonder why should watch this great bit.

I've seen a number of Linder's earlier French comedies, and while they are generally amusing and often charming (and sometimes surprisingly gross), none I've encountered is as funny or as skillfully executed as this. Sadly, Max Linder is generally forgotten today, and lingers only as a ghost-like figure in movie history, but the wider availability of his best films could help to restore his reputation as one of the great silent clowns.

P.S. Spring 2014: It's been announced that a complete version of Be My Wife will soon be available in a new Max Linder DVD set. Exciting news for fans of this neglected screen artist!