Charlie is a soldier who struggles to march but volunteered for dangerous missions. Released a few months before the armistice, Shoulder Arms was originally intended to be a feature. The subject is very delicate: laugh with war is perilous, especially as some of Chaplin detractors blamed him for my lack of patriotism. With great art, it nevertheless manage to find the perfect balance and the film will be one of its most popular. It uses the theme of the reluctant hero who, despite some awkwardness, accomplished real feats. This does not prevent the film from being broadly anti-militarist, showing the absurdity of war.