Henri Bergson - S/D, C/D

This guy was an idol to Sartre and Deleuze but aside from his fantastic essay about what laughter is and why it exists, I don't know a dang thing about him. The way he writes about laughter is so awesomely rigorous and clear and accessible - should I hope that his other writing is too? Classic? Dude? What should I, or can I, read?

This - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alain-Resnais-Theme-Time-John/dp/B000H797TG

Outlines some of the basics of Bergson's ideas when talking about Resnais' films. Became really interested in Bergson since I read it but haven't followed up.

Search: Time and Free Will: an Essay on the Immediate Data of Consciousness.

sartre was turned on to philosophy by that essay, iirc.

Ocasionally lyrical but superficial, so dud.

Most popular philosopher ever?

Most popular philosophers (thinkers actually, I personally doubt their philosophical status):

-Renan
-Nietzsche
-Bertrand Russell

Boethius (vastly superior to the trio above) was also widely read.

I meant, popular at their own time -- after all, Nietzsche was hardly read in his own time, certainly not as he is now; and Plato is probably more read than anyone by now. Didn't Bergson have the biggest following in his own time -- wasn't he possibly the biggest crowd-puller in philosophical history?

That's right pinefox, Nietzsche was indeed a posthumous fad. As for Bergson, he was very popular, his name and his élan stuff were common currency etc. Now books by Boethius, Renan and Russell were once found in practically every single European home. As for Plato, I wish you were right, but most people do not really read him. Try asking those who say they have some trick questions and you'll see that.