Despite my blasé attitude towards Chaplin, I did enjoy this film. Charlie plays a soldier in the trenches during World War I and gets involved in some funny situations. He tosses some limburger cheese into the German trenches, scattering the enemy. At one point, disguised as a tree, he takes out several Germans. Edna Purviance, as a French girl, makes an appearance about 15 minutes before the film ends, and she is gets it on some of the slapstick. One of my favorite scenes was when Charlie, disguised as a German, hugs his captured buddy, then beats on him every time the Germans look. Charlie's buddy is played by his brother, Sydney. Sydney also pulls double duty, playing the Kaiser.
For anyone who has never seen a Chaplin film, this would be a nice introduction.
For anyone who has never seen a Chaplin film, this would be a nice introduction.