The High Sign (Buster Keaton, 1921)

The High Sign was written and directed by Buster Keaton in 1921, and follows a man in a seaside town who accidentally becomes involves in an assassination plot, where he is both hired to kill a man and protect him from harm. Things escalate, as they often do in Keaton films, and the plot intensifies and the stakes are raised as events become more chaotic and ridiculous.

The film combines elements of realism, reflecting the time period in which it was made, and expressionism, with some elaborate stunts and impossible scenarios that are used for comedic effect. For example, Keaton is working in a shooting ranch in one scene, but then creates a coat hanger by painting one on a wall in the next. It is only used for comedy, but the jokes in The High Sign are more elaborate than those in One Week(Buster Keaton, 1920) and The Scarecrow(Buster Keaton, 1920). In these films Keaton achieves comedy by using exaggerated movements and stunts to make physical comedy in wild, over-the-top scenarios. This is done in The High Sign, but here Keaton also creates a more complex plot with more buildup than climax, as the main action sequence only happens at the end of the film. He relies less on physical comedy and more on the bizarre and wild nature of the scenario that he is in and the outcome of the things he does by accident due to his own characters naive and clueless personality, something that the other films feature.

I personally really enjoyed The High Sign! I liked how the small and silly events escalated and spiralled into a funny and exiting climax, and Keaton’s clueless but lovable character moved through them, hanging on by the skin of his teeth but somehow making it out fine. It was goofy, silly, but entertaining nonetheless. I rate The High Sign 4 stars!