Set partly amongst the trenches of the First World War, Shoulder Arms was a bold film for
Charlie Chaplin to make in 1918 given the wide reaching criticism he received
for failing to sign up to fight. He was advised by close friends to abandon the
film for something less controversial but Charlie battled on and despite the
possible outrage and backlash the film became Chaplin’s most critically
acclaimed and financially successful film up to that point, was particularly
popular with returning Doughboys and features a couple of scenes which may well
be recognisable to people who have never even seen a full Chaplin film.
Charlie plays a young recruit who is sent over to France to join
the war. Despite typical problems to begin with he soon discovers that he is a
more than competent soldier and after numerous brave exploits ends up in the
house of a French woman (Edna Purviance) who tends to his wounds. With the help
of his new love and a dear friend from the trenches, Chaplin ends up winning
the war for the allies. Or does he?
