Henkivartija

Original title: The High Sign

1921
K-3
20m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

3.6K

YOUR RATING

Short Action Comedy

A drifter at an amusement park finds himself both the bodyguard and hit man of a man targeted by a criminal gang.A drifter at an amusement park finds himself both the bodyguard and hit man of a man targeted by a criminal gang.A drifter at an amusement park finds himself both the bodyguard and hit man of a man targeted by a criminal gang.

Directors
- Edward F. Cline
- Buster Keaton
Writers
- Edward F. Cline
- Buster Keaton
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

3.6K

YOUR RATING

Directors
- Edward F. Cline
- Buster Keaton
Writers
- Edward F. Cline
- Buster Keaton
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Photos79

Buster Keaton and Bartine Burkett in Henkivartija (1921)

Buster Keaton, Bartine Burkett, and Ingram B. Pickett in Henkivartija (1921)

Bartine Burkett and Ingram B. Pickett in Henkivartija (1921)

Buster Keaton and Ingram B. Pickett in Henkivartija (1921)

Top cast6

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Buster Keaton

Our Hero
(as 'Buster' Keaton)

Bartine Burkett

Miss Nickelnurser
(uncredited)

Charles Dorety

Gang Member
(uncredited)

Ingram B. Pickett

Tiny Tim
(uncredited)

Joe Roberts

Leader of Buzzards
(uncredited)

Al St. John

Man on Beach During Target Practice
(uncredited)

Directors
- Edward F. Cline
- Buster Keaton
Writers
- Edward F. Cline
- Buster Keaton
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Included in "Buster Keaton: The Shorts Collection" blu-ray set, released by Kino.

Goofs
When Buster comes back from the gang's room to the shooting gallery (9:45 min), there is nothing on the wall between the two posters. But after he climbs over the counter, his coat is now hanging on the wall.

Quotes
Narration Card: The brutal bungalow of the Blinking Buzzards, a bold bad bunch of blood-thirsty bandits who would break into a bank, blow a battleship to bits or beat up a blue eyed baby blonde.

Alternate versions
Film Preservation Associates copyrighted a version in 1995 containing a music score and sound effects, with a running time of 21 minutes.

Connections
Featured in Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow (1987)

User reviews21

Review

Featured review

8/10

Great

What amazes me in every Buster Keaton short is how good the physical action is. In 'The High Sign' he has the perfect setting to show us his tricks. In a house where there must be a secret escape in every room he has to escape from a couple of guys who do not like him very much because he betrayed them. He had to kill a certain person but faked the whole thing.

The story in a Buster Keaton short is not that important. Once he starts doing those great things on screen I don't want it to end. The camera is able to see four rooms at the same time and Keaton moves from room to room, through walls and ceilings. It is all great.

helpful•13