Max and the Statue (1912)

• 58%
• 1912
• Comedy
• Max Linder

Max, arrayed in the disguise of a knight in armour, is preparing to attend the opera ball, where he is to meet a fair admirer, disguised in a blue domino. The knight appears in the midst of the gay crowd, and, spying Blue Domino, makes his way to her side. Later he takes her to Maxim's, and makes love to her, in spite of his costume. Time flies, and at 5 a.m. we see Max, alone, asleep at the table in the restaurant. The waiter, arousing him, presents the bill, but the knight's suit contains no pockets, therefore there is no money forthcoming, and Max is deposited on the pavement outside. It happens that a statue of Bayard is that day to be unveiled at one of the galleries, and some apaches stealthily enter the gallery and remove the statue. When its loss is discovered the police set off in search of it. Seeing Max's prostrate figure clad in amour, they believe him to be the missing statue, and pick up his inert body and carry it to the pedestal, where it is installed. The unveiling takes place a little later amid complimentary speeches and the singing of the Marseillaise. This interesting ceremony over, two other apaches, learning that the unveiling has taken place, seek to emulate their predecessors, and once more the statue is carried off. They convey it to one of their haunts, where they begin to disrobe it. To this the knight forcibly objects, and the apaches rush into the street, and into the arms of the police. The whole party then return to the cellar, but the statue has vanished. Presently the knight appears playing a guitar, and all fly precipitately out of the cellar.