Shoulder Arms (1918)

Synopsis [spoilers]: Charlie is a World War One soldier. We first see him marching, his sergeant trying to correct his errors. Later, he is in a trench. Everyone gets a package from home except him. His package arrives a little later; it's a smelly cheese and some hard bread. He wears a gas mask to avoid smelling the cheese; he then throws it away and it lands on the enemy trench, hitting the enemy sergeant, a very short guy. At night, his barrack is flooded; he sleeps under water, and uses the record player's shell speaker as respirator. On the next day, they are selecting volunteers for an incursion into enemy territory and Charlie is selected. He disguises himself as a tree, and when an enemy soldier comes near him with the intention of chopping some wood, he hits him in the head, knocking him unconscious. The same happens with his colleagues which approach to see what happened with their mates. Charlie then sees his fellow the radio operator being taken by the Germans -- they are about to shoot him. He manages to approach and knock one of them out and then they both fight the Germans and escape. Charlie finds a house that's been almost destroyed by the bombing. He goes in and finds a French young woman living there. Then some Germans come and a fight ensues which complete the destruction of the house. Charlie escapes but the girl is taken prisoner. At the German camp the officer in charge is making advances toward the girl when Charlie arrives and subdues him; the Kaiser is visiting the camp on that same day; Charlie hides and then reappears wearing the German officer's clothes. His friend the radio operator is taken there as a prisoner, and Charlie pretends to take him under his custody. Charlie and his friends tie the Kaiser's driver and his mate up; the girl disguises herself as the driver. Charlie takes the Kaiser and another officer to the allies's camp, where they are made prisoners. Everyone is celebrating when suddenly it is all revealed to be Charlie's dream. His fellows awake him. Note: I saw the version contained in The Chaplin Revue (1959), with duration 36:08 min.

Deleted Scenes: What happens before Charlie goes to war is narrated here. We first see Charlie strolling on the sidewalk with three little kids. Charlie stops to have a drink at the bar, then returns to the kids. Charlies arrives in his house and says goodbye to the kids. Inside, he is continuously scolded by his wife, who is outside the frame at all times. She keeps throwing objects at him, and ordering him about. Charlie has to hang some clothes (enormous, implying she is very obese), cook, etc. A letter arrives, it's apparently some propaganda encouraging enlistment. Charlie decides to enlist, and he proceeds to be physically examined. We see him through the door glass, but only his shadow and the doctor's are visible. The doctor inserts a spoon in his mouth, which he accidentally swallows, then the doctor tries to retrieve the spoon with pliars, Charlie swallows the pliars, then the doctor fishes them out with line and hook, then he retrieves the spoon by punching Charlie in the chest.

Appraisal: Entertaining enough.

Rating: 60