Shoulder Arms.

Review #775: Shoulder Arms.

Cast
Charlie Chaplin (Charlie, the Doughboy), Edna Purviance (French girl), Sydney Chaplin (Charlie's Comrade/The Kaiser), Jack Wilson (German Crown Prince), Henry Bergman (Fat German Sergeant/Field Marshal von Hindenburg/Bartender), and Albert Austin (American Officer/Clean Shaven German Soldier/Bearded German Soldier) Directed by Charlie Chaplin.

Review
Well, it's Christmas. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves (I slept a good portion of the day, though at least I ate well and had some good gifts). As such, I thought it fitting to end the day with a Charlie Chaplin movie. Shoulder Arms is a silent comedy set during World War I (released a month before the Armistice was signed), with Chaplin playing a "Doughboy", which was actually a term for members of the Army and Marines, so this time around he isn't playing the Tramp. As it turned out, this was Chaplin's shortest feature (at 44 minutes) ever released, and it's not a bad film. There's a good amount of gags that you'd expect from a Chaplin film, hits and all. One of my favorites is him hiding in disguise as a tree behind enemy lines (such a clever disguise, eh?). Of course him throwing Limburger cheese into the enemy trench (after putting on a gas mask) right into the face of a soldier is pretty funny as well. The movie flows well, and its likable enough to be entertaining for anyone. If you're looking for some brilliant memorable gags that lasts less than an hour, I'd recommend this.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

A Trip to Mars (Himmelskibet).

Review #740: A Trip to Mars (Himmelskibet).

Cast
Gunnar Tolnæs (Avanti Planetaros - Captain of the Space Ship), Zanny Petersen (Corona, Avanti's Sister), Nicolai Neiiendam (Professor Planetaros, Astronomer), Alf Blütecher (Dr. Krafft, Avanti's Friend), Svend Kornbeck (David Dane, American), Philip Bech (Martian leader - Wise Man), Lilly Jacobson (Marya, Martian Leader's Daughter), and Frederik Jacobsen (Professor Dubius) Directed by Holger-Madsen.

Review
In the near five years since I've done this show, I hadn't reviewed a film from Denmark. Of course I've only did 4 movies from the 1910's to being with, so let me make both statements less true with A Trip to Mars, known in its original release as Himmelskibet (the name of the novel this is adapted from). It is interesting to review a science-fiction film released 97 years ago, especially with regards to the sets and the effects. Even though the movie is older than I am, it's not hard to appreciate the effort, and I wonder how it must have been to think up an idea for a movie about going to Mars, especially with an airship named Excelsior. Even the names of these characters are interesting to read. The actors seem to move and gesture themselves a great deal, which to me reminds me that silent movies are certainly interesting to discuss, because they can either have their actors show little with their hands while using their emotions, or use little to no title cards to explain the story. The movie's pacifist theme is interesting to note given the time this was made (released during the final year of World War I), and it certainly gives the movie an interesting goal, which it achieves. It's an interesting relic into the film-making back in an age way before we even traveled out into the stars.

The next landmark has begun: Countdown to 750 Reviews: 10...

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Mickey.

Review #435: Mickey.

Cast
Mabel Normand (Mickey), George Nichols (Joe Meadows), Wheeler Oakman (Herbert Thornhill), Minta Durfee (Elsie Drake), Laura La Varnie (Mrs. Geoffrey Drake), Lew Cody (Reggie Drake), and Tom Kennedy (Tom Rawlings) Directed by F. Richard Jones and James Young.

Review
Mickey is the earliest point of time in the 20th century to be reviewed here, over 90 years old, making it even older than say, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. This silent film was produced by Mabel Normand Feature Film Company, which would only make one film, and this is a rare case of a film company bearing the name of the person involved and then starring in the film (unless you count "Wiseau Films" in the discussion) as well. The actors try to convey emotions, but only Normand seems to the most convincing at that, and she does a fine job overall. The film itself is not really that much to it, and why it can give a chuckle, the story doesn't have that much meat to it, and this is more of a curiosity piece that a good film, but I'm sure silent film lovers will get a treat out of this.

Overall, I give it 6 out of 10 stars.