Shoulder Arms
| Shoulder Arms | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Produced by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Written by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Starring | Edna Purviance Sydney Chaplin |
| Cinematography | Roland Totheroh |
| Editing by | Charles Chaplin |
| Distributed by | First National Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 20 October 1918 |
| Running time | 46 minutes |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | Silent film English intertitles |
Shoulder Arms is Charlie Chaplin's second film for First National Pictures. Released in 1918, it is a silent comedy set in France during World War I. The main part of the film occurs in a dream. Co-starring Edna Purviance and Sydney Chaplin, Chaplin's brother. It was Chaplin's shortest feature film.
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Reception
Shoulder Arms proved to be Chaplin's most popular film, critically and commercially, up to that point. A review in the October 21, 1918 New York Times was typical:
"'The fool's funny,' was the chuckling observation of one of those who saw Charlie Chaplin's new film. Shoulder Arms, at the Strand yesterday—and, apparently, that's the way everybody felt. There have been learned discussions as to whether Chaplin's comedy is low or high, artistic or crude, but no one can deny that when he impersonates a screen fool he is funny. Most of those who go to find fault with him remain to laugh. They may still find fault, but they will keep on laughing."
The film was very revolutionary for its time, introducing a new genre of comedy. Previously, films had treated war as a serious subject. This is believed to be the very first comedy film about war.[citation needed]
Goofs
In the scene where Chaplin (in his tree costume) is being pursued through the forest, cars can be seen traveling on a highway in the background. Although highways in the United States existed when this film was made, they did not exist in Germany. Germany's first highway was built in 1921.
Credited Cast
- Charles Chaplin ... Doughboy
- Edna Purviance ... French girl
- Syd Chaplin ... Charlie's Comrade/The Kaiser
- Jack Wilson ... German Crown Prince
- Henry Bergman ... Fat German sergeant/Field Marshal von Hindenburg/Bartender
- Albert Austin ... American Officer/Clean Shaven German Soldier/Bearded German Soldier
- Tom Wilson ... Dumb German Wood-Cutter
- John Rand ... U.S. soldier
- J. Parks Jones ... U.S. soldier (as Park Jones)
- Loyal Underwood ... Small German officer
External links
- Shoulder Arms at the Internet Movie Database
- Free download on the Internet Archive
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