The defence The Prestige Tourist
“Form is the argument.”
Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.
Back to trending 
Shoulder Arms
Comedy · War · 1918
An American doughboy, stationed in France during the Great War, goes on a daring mission behind enemy lines and becomes a hero.
Movie details
Shoulder Arms
“Unprecedented in film annals!”
1918 Comedy · War 36m
Critical arithmetic
The consensus, allegedly.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
IMDb
7.3 / 10
7.6K votes
TMDB
6.9 / 10
Community rating
External scores via OMDb · CC BY-NC 4.0. Values normalized for display; availability varies by title.
An American doughboy, stationed in France during the Great War, goes on a daring mission behind enemy lines and becomes a hero.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Shoulder Arms?
For the defence
The Prestige Tourist
“You like your greatness pre-approved.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
Block-Heads
Comedy · 1938
It's 1938, but Stan doesn't know the war is over; he's still patrolling the trenches in France, and shoots down a French aviator. Oliver sees his old chum's picture in the paper and goes to visit Stan who has now been returned to the States and invites him back to his home.
Duck Soup
Comedy · 1933
Rufus T. Firefly is named president/dictator of bankrupt Freedonia and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of wealthy Mrs. Teasdale.
Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero
Animation · 2018
The true story of the most decorated dog in American military history - Sgt. Stubby - and the enduring bonds he forged with his brothers-in-arms in the trenches of World War I.
Distant Drums
Western · 1951
After destroying a Seminole fort, American soldiers and their rescued companions must face the dangerous Everglades and hostile Indians in order to reach safety
Carry On Sergeant
Comedy · 1958
Sergeant Grimshawe wants to retire in the flush of success by winning the Star Squad prize with his very last platoon of newly called-up National Servicemen. But a motley bunch they turn out to be, and it's up to Grimshawe to put the no-hopers through their paces.
A Parks and Recreation Special
Comedy · 2020
Pawnee's most dedicated civil servant, Leslie Knope, is determined to stay connected to her friends in a time of social distancing.
The War Game
War · 1966
A docudrama depicting a hypothetical nuclear attack on Britain. After backing the film's development, the BBC refused to air it, publicly stating "the effect of the film has been judged by the BBC to be too horrifying for the medium of broadcasting." It debuted in theaters in 1966 and went on to great acclaim, but remained unseen on British television until 1985.
Kelly's Heroes
Adventure · 1970
A misfit group of World War II American soldiers goes AWOL to rob a bank behind German lines.
Oh! What a Lovely War
Comedy · 1969
The working-class Smiths change their initially sunny views on World War I after the five boys of the family witness the harsh reality of trench warfare.
Against the Sun
War · 2014
A WWII pilot, bombardier, and radioman find themselves adrift on a lifeboat without food or water after being forced to ditch their plane during a scouting mission.
Where it lives
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Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.
Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Charlie Chaplin
Written by
Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Doughboy
Edna Purviance
The Girl
Sydney Chaplin
Charlie's Comrade / The Kaiser
Loyal Underwood
Short German Officer
Henry Bergman
Fat Whiskered German Soldier / The Kaiser's General / Bartender
Tom Wilson
Dumb German Wood-Cutter
Albert Austin
American Soldier / Clean Shaven German Soldier / Bearded German Soldier
Court is in session
Put Shoulder Arms on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Technique in search of a pulse.”
Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.