His First Cigar (1908) User Reviews

The Man Who Influenced Chaplin

[JoeytheBrit · 7/10 · 25 October 2009]

The French comic Max Linder is largely forgotten today, but he was so huge in his native country that he became sufficiently well-known in the States to have a crack in Hollywood (thanks largely to Charlie Chaplin identifying him as a major influence). This is one of Linder's earliest films, and it's well worth seeking out. He plays a callow youth who steals a cigar on which he liberally puffs in an attempt to impress a young lady. Of course it's not long before he's feeling a little sick and begins staggering around under the force of an attack of hiccoughs that sees him blundering into a neighbour's flat as he tries to make his way home.

The film is quite sophisticated for it's time with a relatively large number of scene changes as we follow Max's misadventures. It also features a close-up shot to show his reactions to the effects of the cigar he is smoking. Linder's movements when he is under the influence of the cigar are remarkably similar to Chaplins, and fans of the little tramp shouldn't miss the opportunity to watch this. You can find it on the internet.

Pretty good for 1908--pretty lame when seen today.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 9 January 2012]

Max Linder is one of the earliest film comedians--appearing in movies well before the likes of Chaplin and Keaton. However, despite being an international star, today he's mostly forgotten.

This is one of Max's earlier films--before he began directing himself and producing more mature comedies. In other words, like the very early comedies, this is based on a VERY simple premise and Linder just improvises. It's impressive for what it is, but he'd be making much better and more complex films just a few years later.

The film begins with swiping a few cigars--and you'd assume they are his father's. He is so pleased with himself--now he can look sophisticated and very adult. Unfortunately, all that really happens is that he gets very sick. Sadly, the sick scene is WAY overdone--begin way too long and not subtle in the least. For 1908 it's not bad but when seen today it just looks overdone.

old music-hall gag

[kekseksa · 19 September 2015]

Films are not "good for 1908" and "bad for 2015". They are either good or they are bad. I am a huge admirer of Max Linder who at his best is a marvel to watch and whose best films are just as good now as they ever were. But this is a stale old music-hall gag (stale even in 1908). Pathé has already made the same film twice (in 1902 and 1904) with different vaudeville comedians (Albens and Félix Gallipaux) and Max should never had anything to do with it.

But there were bad films in 1908 just as there are bad films made today (they are probably the majority in both cases) and even good actors sometimes get cast in rotten films.