Vintage original 11 x 14 in. US lobby card from the teens WWI-themed silent film war comedy short, SHOULDER ARMS, released in 1918 by First National Pictures and directed by Charles Chaplin.
 
The image depicts an exterior scene as a Doughboy (Charlie Chaplin), his rifle at-the-ready, awaits the signal to go "over the top" along with his fellow doughboys, including cast member Syd Chaplin (Charlie's brother). It has been professionally paper-backed with expert restoration on the borders.
 
*"Shoulder Arms is Charlie Chaplin's second film for First National Pictures. Released in 1918, it is a silentcomedy film set in France during World War I, the first of three films he made on the subject of war. It co-starred Edna Purviance and Sydney Chaplin, Chaplin's elder brother. In this film, Chaplin is never in his Little Tramp outfit. 
 
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 Timeswas 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."
 
The film was very revolutionary for its time, introducing a new genre of comedy. Previously, films had treated war as a serious subject. This is believed to be the first comedy film about war."
*(source: Wikipedia)
 
*"Charlie is a boot camp private who has a dream of being a hero who goes on a daring mission behind enemy lines."
*(source: IMDb)
 
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