Shoulder Arms (1918): cast, story & where to watch
1918 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1918, Shoulder Arms is a comedy and war film directed by Charlie Chaplin, running about 36 minutes. “Unprecedented in film annals!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. An American doughboy, stationed in France during the Great War, goes on a daring mission behind enemy lines and becomes a hero.
Who’s in it. Shoulder Arms stars Edna Purviance as The Girl, Charlie Chaplin as Doughboy, Syd Chaplin as Charlie's Comrade / The Kaiser and Loyal Underwood as Short German Officer, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Shoulder Arms has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Shoulder Arms page.
If you liked it. Fans of Shoulder Arms tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Shoulder Arms (1918)?
- In US, Shoulder Arms is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Shoulder Arms worth watching?
- Shoulder Arms holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Shoulder Arms?
- Shoulder Arms stars Edna Purviance, Charlie Chaplin, Syd Chaplin, Loyal Underwood and Henry Bergman.
- When was Shoulder Arms released?
- Shoulder Arms was released in 1918, with a runtime of about 36 minutes.