The High Sign is a 1921

1921 in film

-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1921:U.S.A. unless stated*$10,000 Under a Pillow, silent film directed by Frank Moser*The Ace of Hearts, silent film directed by Wallace Worsley*Across the Divide, silent film directed by John Holloway...

 short comedy film starring comedian Buster Keaton

Buster Keaton

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...

. It was written and directed by Keaton and Edward F. Cline

Edward F. Cline

Edward Francis Cline was a screenwriter, actor, writer and director. He was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin and died in Hollywood.-Career:...

. The runtime is 21 minutes. Although One Week was the first of Keaton's independent shorts to be released, The High Sign was the first one to be produced. Disappointed with the result, Keaton shelved the film. It wasn't until a year later, when he broke his ankle and delayed the completion of The Haunted House

The Haunted House (1921 film)

The Haunted House is a 1921 short comedy film starring comedian Buster Keaton. It was written and directed by Keaton and Edward F. Cline. The runtime is 21 minutes...

, that the film was released. The title refers to the secret signal used by the underworld gang in the film.

Guitarist Bill Frisell

Bill Frisell

William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...

 released a soundtrack to the movie in 1995 on his album The High Sign/One Week

The High Sign/One Week

The High Sign/One Week: Music for the Films of Buster Keaton is the seventh album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 1995 and features performances by Frisell, Kermit Driscoll and Joey Baron...

. The Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra

The Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra

The Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra is an ensemble of composers and musicians based in St. Louis, Missouri. The ensemble composes and performs original scores to accompany films of the Silent Era, and composes and records soundtrack music for contemporary films.- Origins and History:The...

 premiered its new score for the movie in 2008.

Plot

Buster plays a drifter who cons his way into working at an amusement park shooting gallery. Believing Buster 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.

Cast

• Buster Keaton
  Buster Keaton
  Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
  
   - Our Hero (as 'Buster' Keaton)
• Bartine Burkett
  Bartine Burkett
  Bartine Burkett was an American film actress. She appeared in more than 60 films between 1916 and 1983, a number of TV series episodes and TV commercials.She was born in Robeline, Louisiana and died in Burbank, California....
  
   - Miss Nickelnurser (uncredited)
• Charles Dorety - Villain (uncredited)
• Al St. John
  Alfred St. John
  Al St. John in his persona of Fuzzy Q. Jones basically defined the role and concept of "comical sidekick" to cowboy heroes from 1930 to 1951. St...
  
  - Man in during target practice (uncredited)