Shoulder Arms
| Shoulder Arms | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster to Shoulder Arms | |
| Directed by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Written by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Produced by | Charlie Chaplin |
| Starring | Edna Purviance Sydney Chaplin |
| Cinematography | Roland Totheroh |
| Edited by | Charles Chaplin |
| Distributed by | First National Pictures |
Release date | October 20, 1918 |
Running time | 46 minutes |
| Country | USA |
| Languages | 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 actually occurs in a dream. It co-starred Edna Purviance and Sydney Chaplin, Chaplin's brother. It is Chaplin's shortest feature film.
Credited cast
- Charles Chaplin ... Charlie, the Doughboy
- Edna Purviance ... French girl
- Syd Chaplin ... The sergeant, 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
- W.J. Allen ... Motorcyclist
- L.A. Blaisdell ... Motorcyclist
- Wellington Cross ... Motorcyclist
- C.L. Dice ... Motorcyclist
- G.A. Godfrey ... Motorcyclist
- W. Herron ... Motorcyclist
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."
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. Of course, the Western Front was in France, not Germany.
External links
- Shoulder Arms at IMDb
- Shoulder Arms is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
- Shoulder Arms review at Clown Ministry