http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=The_High_SignThe High Sign - Revision history2026-05-15T02:52:38ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.1http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=The_High_Sign&diff=3458016&oldid=prev2600:1011:B169:7F9F:7417:434E:621F:98B4 at 23:39, 23 February 20252025-02-23T23:39:43Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|1921 film}}<br />
{{For|the 1917 film of the same name|The High Sign (1917 film)}}<br />
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}<br />
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}<br />
{{Infobox film<br />
|name = The High Sign<br />
|image = The High Sign (1921) - Ad 1.jpg<br />
|caption = Buster gives the titular "high sign"<br />
|director = [[Edward F. Cline]]<br>[[Buster Keaton]]<br />
|producer = [[Joseph M. Schenck]]<br />
|writer = [[Edward F. Cline]]<br>[[Buster Keaton]]<br />
|starring = {{Plainlist |<br />
*[[Buster Keaton]]<br />
*[[Bartine Burkett]]<br />
*[[Charles Dorety]]<br />
*[[Al St. John]]<br />
}}<br />
|music =<br />
|cinematography = [[Elgin Lessley]]<br />
|editing = [[Buster Keaton]]<br />
|distributor = [[Metro Pictures]]<br />
|released = {{Film date|1921|04|12}}<br />
|runtime = 21 minutes<br />
|language = [[Silent film]]<br>[[English language|English]] (original) [[intertitle]]s<br />
|country = United States<br />
|budget =<br />
}}<br />
'''''The High Sign''''' is a 1921 [[Short film|two-reel]] [[Silent film|silent]] [[comedy film]] starring [[Buster Keaton]], and written and directed by Keaton and [[Edward F. Cline]]. Its runtime is 21 minutes. Although ''[[One Week (1920 film)|One Week]]'' (1920) was Keaton's first independent film short released, ''The High Sign'' was the first one made. Disappointed with the result, Keaton shelved it and the film was not released until the following year. The title refers to the secret hand signal used by the film's underworld gang.<br />
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== Plot ==<br />
[[File:The High Sign (Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton, 1921).webm|left|thumb|thumbtime=5|Full short]]<br />
Keaton plays a drifter who cons his way into working at an amusement park shooting gallery. Believing Keaton is an expert marksman, both the murderous gang the Blinking Buzzards and the man they want to kill end up hiring him. The film ends with a wild chase through a house filled with secret passages and trap doors.<br />
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==Cast==<br />
* [[Buster Keaton]] - Our Hero (as 'Buster' Keaton)<br />
* [[Bartine Burkett]] - Miss Nickelnurser (uncredited)<br />
* Ingram B. Pickett - Tiny Tim (tall villain) (uncredited)<br />
* [[Charles Dorety]] - Drunk (uncredited)<br />
* [[Al St. John]] - Man in target practice (uncredited)<br />
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==Production==<br />
[[File:Bartine Burkett in the High Sign.jpg|right|thumb|(L. to r.) Ingram B. Pickett, Keaton, and Bartine Burkett on the set]]<br />
''The High Sign'' was Keaton's first independent production.{{sfn|Keaton|Vance|2001|pp=66–7}} In contrast to the "violent slapstick" of the films he had made with [[Roscoe Arbuckle|Fatty Arbuckle]], this short film evinces the "dry and quiet comedy style" which would become Keaton's trademark.{{sfn|Keaton|Vance|2001|pp=66–7}}<br />
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The climactic chase scenes inside the house take place on a split-level, cutaway set with revolving wall panels, trap doors, and hidden corridors in all the rooms.{{sfn|Keaton|Vance|2001|pp=66–7}} Filming took place at the studios of the [[Comique Film Corporation]] recently vacated by Arbuckle.<ref name=Daniel>{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/one_week.pdf|title=One Week|first=Daniel|last=Eagan|year=2009|accessdate=January 14, 2021|publisher=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref> Keaton also began working with Arbuckle's former cinematographer [[Elgin Lessley]] and technical director [[Fred Gabourie]], who remained with him until he signed with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] in 1929.<ref name=Daniel/><br />
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==Release==<br />
Though Keaton completed ''The High Sign'' a year earlier, he delayed its release because he felt it too closely mimicked Arbuckle's style; he also "thought the gags were too ridiculous and clever for their own sake".{{sfn|Keaton|Vance|2001|pp=66–7}} ''The High Sign'' was released April 4, 1921. At that time, Keaton had broken his ankle while filming the first version of ''[[The Electric House]]'' and his company needed to market a new film.{{sfn|Keaton|Vance|2001|pp=66–7}}<br />
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==Contemporary soundtracks==<br />
Guitarist [[Bill Frisell]] released a soundtrack to the film in 1995 on his album ''[[The High Sign/One Week]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/high-sign-one-week-mw0000627892|title=Bill Frisell: High Sign/One Week|first=JT|last=Griffith|work=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=January 14, 2021|year=2021}}</ref> The Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra premiered its new score for the film in 2008. [[Carl Davis]] composed an original score in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fabermusic.com/we-represent/carl-davis/works|title=Carl Davis|publisher=Faber Music|year=2021|accessdate=January 14, 2021}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[List of American films of 1921]]<br />
* [[Buster Keaton filmography]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==Sources==<br />
*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/busterkeatonreme00keat/page/66/mode/2up|title=Buster Keaton Remembered|first1=Eleanor|last1=Keaton|first2=Jeffrey|last2=Vance|authorlink2=Jeffrey Vance|year=2001|publisher=Harry N. Abrams Inc.|isbn=9780810942271}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{commons category}}<br />
* [http://sensesofcinema.com/2013/cteq/the-high-sign/ Senses of Cinema article on ''The High Sign''] <br />
* {{IMDb title|0012278}}<br />
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBrWsMmjTds ''The 'High Sign'''] on [[YouTube]]<br />
* [http://www.busterkeaton.org/highsign ''The High Sign''] at the [[International Buster Keaton Society]]<br />
* {{Internet Archive film|TheHighSign}}<br />
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{{Buster Keaton}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:High Sign, The}}<br />
[[Category:1921 films]]<br />
[[Category:1921 comedy films]]<br />
[[Category:1921 short films]]<br />
[[Category:1920s American films]]<br />
[[Category:1920s English-language films]]<br />
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]<br />
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]<br />
[[Category:Films directed by Buster Keaton]]<br />
[[Category:Films directed by Edward F. Cline]]<br />
[[Category:Films produced by Joseph M. Schenck]]<br />
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Buster Keaton]]<br />
[[Category:Metro Pictures films]]<br />
[[Category:Silent American comedy short films]]<br />
[[Category:Surviving American silent films]]<br />
[[Category:English-language comedy short films]]</div>2600:1011:B169:7F9F:7417:434E:621F:98B4