“The film (current length: 1,200 metres) lost about one reel compared to the original American release length (5 reels/1,608 metres), but it is difficult to say exactly where, because as far as we know only the German version survived, and the restoration has proven to be a detective saga in itself”.

(Catherine A. Surowiec (ed. by), The European Film Archives at the Crossroads, Projecto Lumière, Lisbona, 1996)

“Of the three films made by Max Linder in Hollywood, the best one is certainly The Three-Must-Get-Theres, although the other two also show excellent gags. We can say without exaggeration, that this is Linder’s masterpiece, as well as his most important feature. To the usual comic repertoire we see the addition of totally new bizarre traits and a truly burlesque use of anachronism, the most difficult comic quality to apply convincingly. In March 1922, after many misadventures, Max Linder finished shooting and spent the following month of April in the editing room. Following a fashion which was then taking hold, he organised in May a preview at the Dome Theater of Ocean Park, and everyone from Hollywood was invited. The Three Must-Get-Theres was warmly welcomed by its first well-chosen audience. Sid Grauman and Bebe Daniels were very enthusiastic about it. The next day in order to celebrate the success, Max Linder held a great party which saw the participation of Charlie Chaplin, John Gilbert, Bessie Love and many more. Four months later, after the film release in New York, Douglas Fairbanks, charmed by this kind parody of his The Three Musketeers, sent a wire to Max Linder (on September 3rd) saying: ‘Your film is now very successful in New York. Critics are enthused by it. I would like to congratulate you and assure you of my friendship. Douglas Fairbanks’”.

(Charles Ford, Max Linder, Paris, Seghers, 1966)