Beginning with Charlie Chaplins Shoulder Arms released in America near the end of World War I the military comedy film has been one of Hollywoods most durable genres. This generously illustrated history examines over 225 Army Navy and Marinerelated comedies produced between 1918 and 2009 including the abundance of laughspinners released during World War II in the wake of Abbott and Costellos phenomenally successful Buck Privates 1941 and the many lighthearted service films of the immediate postwar era among them Mister Roberts 1955 and No Time for Sergeants 1958. Also included are discussions of such subgenres as silent films The General militaryacademy farces Brother Rat women in uniform Private Benjamin misfits making good Stripes antiwar comedies MASH and factbased films The Men Who Stare at Goats.