Showing posts with label War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label War. Show all posts

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Shoulder Arms (1918)

★★★★★

Photobucket

Shoulder Arms is a 1918 silent film directed and starring Charlie Chaplin.

Chaplin as his signature Tramp character, is a recruit in the United States army during World War I. After capturing thirteen enemy soldiers by way of "surrounding" them, Charlie gets a pat on the back from the Sergeant (Sydney Chaplin). Later, Charlie is sent to spy on the enemy whilst disguised as a tree. During the venture within enemy lines, he meets a French girl (Edna Purviance), who aids in his mission. While impersonating as an enemy officer, Charlie discovers that his pal, the Sergeant, has been captured by the opposition. Charlie improvises by convincing the enemy soldiers to leave the prisoner in his hands, which they do, and soon enough when no one is looking, Charlie frees his friend. Together, the team of three save the day, capturing the Kaiser (also played by Sydney Chaplin) and turning him over to the U.S. superior officers. Celebration thus ensues, until that is, Charlie is awoken by his fellow soldiers.

Too bad it was all just a dream.

Read more from Wikipedia, IMDb, and watch it here!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

The Fighting 69th (1940)

★★★★★

The Fighting 69th is a 1940 film, directed by William Keighley. Set in the time of World War I, and based upon the 69th Infantry Regiment. The story follows William Joseph Donovan (George Brent), Joyce Kilmer (Jeffrey Lynn), and most notably Father Francis P. Duffy (portrayed by Pat O'Brien) who attempts to amend troublemaker, Private Jerry Plunkett (James Cagney). Plunkett acts all tough and can throw a punch, but stick him down in the trenches and he's the biggest coward you will have ever seen!

Interesting fact: This unit was the original owner of nickname the "Fighting Irish", which later the University of Notre Dame would officially adopt in 1927.

Read more from Wikipedia, and IMDb

Photobucket