Au secours! (1924)
*** (out of 4)
Forgotten comic Max Linder takes a bet that he can't stay an hour inside a haunted house without crying out for help. This is a pretty interesting short as it really takes a star and director who have nothing in common and they end up turning out a pretty good film. Gance is best known for his three to five hour epics so seeing him do a short was pretty interesting. The director is able to bring some of his trademark skills to the film including a brilliant looking shot of Max going to the house. The camera-work is very impressive as is the editing and some trick shots done with the framing. Linder does a good job with the comedy, which has him running into several ghouls, snakes and even a dancing skeleton. There's really nothing too original storywise here but Gance really makes the film seem fresh with his style.
*** (out of 4)
Forgotten comic Max Linder takes a bet that he can't stay an hour inside a haunted house without crying out for help. This is a pretty interesting short as it really takes a star and director who have nothing in common and they end up turning out a pretty good film. Gance is best known for his three to five hour epics so seeing him do a short was pretty interesting. The director is able to bring some of his trademark skills to the film including a brilliant looking shot of Max going to the house. The camera-work is very impressive as is the editing and some trick shots done with the framing. Linder does a good job with the comedy, which has him running into several ghouls, snakes and even a dancing skeleton. There's really nothing too original storywise here but Gance really makes the film seem fresh with his style.