 When the stage version of "The Chocolate Soldier" premiered, it was  as a musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaws satirical play  "Arms and the Man". Shaw strongly voiced his outrage over the way  his play had been adapted and forbade any other musical adaptations  of his plays (at least, as long as he was alive). "The Chocolate  Soldier" had already been made into a silent film using the plot of  Shaws "Arms and the Man", but when the 1941 sound film was made,  the plot of Ferenc Molnars "The Guardsman" was used so as not to  further offend Shaw, who was still alive.