The High Sign (1921) :
Brief Review -
Buster Keaton - The Genius Architect designs the House of Comedy. Haven't heard of Gangster comedy much for the time like 1921 and as I always expect Keaton to surprise me, The High Sign does that unheard thing. A drifter at an amusement park finds himself both the bodyguard and hit man of a man targeted by a criminal gang. I was laughing hard when i read that intertitle, "Guarding one man and killing him at the same is some job." Lol, what a gaming idea it was. I was sold there only but then Keaton had his outstanding architectural skills to show in the climax to blow me away. In just 20 minutes, Buster Keaton sets a platform for the storyline and then builds a house of miraculous escape and traps that will surely win you over. That gangster sign of cross hands became a symbol later and has been used in many series and films. The title actually refers to the secret hand signal used by the underworld gang in the film and i didn't know it before so it was a good fresh punch for me. With his comic timing and Acrobatics, Buster Keaton is the only hero of the film, it is not a story or direction or anything but just him. That entire 5 minutes sequence in the end is like experiencing a circus on silver screen. He goes from one door then comes from other, he falls down and then again climbs up then makes others fall intentionally. There is lot to say about the architecture of the house of comedy but it can't be described in words, it has to be experienced to enjoy and then cherish it forever. The supporting cast looks good but has got very limited space to get noticed. Edward Cline and Keaton's duo gets along fine as always and there's nothing to be bashed. Like I said, The High Sign is all about Buster Keaton and nobody else and he alone makes it a Must Watch. Overall, a Classic Comedy of structural brilliance.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest.
