''Max Wants a Divorce'' is a 1917 American short film directed by

Max Linder Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (English Springer Spaniel), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of OBE) * Max (gorilla) (1 ...

Plot

Max is forced to choose between losing his newly-wedded wife and a fortune. He hits upon a brilliant scheme: He will give his wife grounds for a divorce, secure the money, and then make his ex-wife Mrs. Linder again. He goes through any amount of trouble in helping her to get the necessary evidence, only to find that it is all a mistake on the part of a stupid lawyer - the money and the wife are both to be his. -- Edward Weitzel, ''

Moving Picture World The ''Moving Picture World'' was an influential early trade journal for the American film industry, from 1907 to 1927. An industry powerhouse at its height, ''Moving Picture World'' frequently reiterated its independence from the film studios. I ...

'' (April 7, 1917)

Cast

as Max *

Martha Mansfield Martha Mansfield (born Martha Ehrlich; July 14, 1899 – November 30, 1923) was an American actress in silent films and vaudeville stage plays. Early life She was born in New York City to Maurice and Harriett Gibson Ehrlich. She had a younger sis ...

as Max's Wife (billed as Martha Early) *

Helen Ferguson Helen Ferguson (July 23, 1901 – March 14, 1977) was an American actress later turned publicist. Biography Born in Decatur, Illinois, in 1901, Ferguson graduated from Nicholas High School of Chicago and the Academy of Fine Arts. Ferguson wa ...

Francine Larrimore Francine Larrimore (born Francine La Remee, August 22, 1898 – March 7, 1975) was a French-born American stage and screen actress. Biography Born in Verdun, France, Larrimore came to the United States when a child. She was educated in New ...

Ernest Maupain Ernest Maupain (1869–1944) was a French film actor who appeared in many American films during the silent era. He played the role of Professor Moriarty in the 1916 Essanay Studios film ''Sherlock Holmes''.Kabatchnik p.167 Selected filmography * ' ...

Leo White Leo White (November 10, 1882 – September 20, 1948), Leo Weiss, was a German-born British-American film and stage actor who appeared as a character actor in many Charlie Chaplin films. Biography Born in Germany, White grew up in England where ...

Mathilde Comont Mathilde Comont (9 September 1886 – 21 June 1938), credited also as Mathilda Caumont, was a French-born American actress, primarily of the silent era. Biography Born in Bordeaux, she appeared in films in her native country, particularly ...

as the Loony Diva

Premiere and preservation status

The film premiered at the Strand Theatre in New York City on 26 March 1917. A restored print was presented by Serge Bromberg of Lobster Films at the

San Francisco Silent Film Festival The San Francisco Silent Film Festival is a film festival first held in 1996 and presented annually at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, California, United States. It is the largest silent film festival in the United States, although the largest ...

on 1 June 2014.

External links

*
''Max Wants a Divorce'' at SilentEra
*
Lantern-slide ad for the film
1917 films 1917 comedy films 1917 short films American silent short films 1910s English-language films American black-and-white films Films directed by Max Linder Silent American comedy films Essanay Studios films American comedy short films 1910s American films {{1910s-short-comedy-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Premiere and preservation status

See also

External links