Although released in April 1921, The High Sign was actually filmed in January and February 1920. It was the first short that Keaton directed as part of his eight-films-a-year contract under Joseph Schenck for Metro Pictures. According to Keaton biographer Edward McPherson, Keaton in fact wanted to direct features but Schenck insisted that he stick with the popular two-reeler format. From Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle's production team he retained the cameraman Elgin Lessley, whose skill at cranking a camera inspired Keaton to dub him "the human metronome." He also retained the gag writer and actor Eddie Cline, who is listed as co-director on this and other Keaton shorts.

According to Keaton biographer Rudi Blesh, when Keaton screened The High Sign for Arbuckle, he took Arbuckle's enthusiasm as a sign that it was too gag-oriented and lacked a strong enough story. Keaton later recalled that the preview audience didn't respond well to him setting up and then subverting a gag based on a man dropping a banana peel on the street. "When the audience saw me approaching they expected me to slip on it. I tried to get a laugh by using the Mafia's secret sign, thumbs held crossed under the nose with the hands spread out on both sides of the face. [...] In the end, I decided that I had made the mistake of outsmarting the audience a little too much. But instead of cutting this scene out I added a shot. In this, after passing the camera and giving the sign, I slipped on a second banana peel somebody had dropped. That worked fine."

Ultimately, Keaton convinced Joseph Schenck to allow him to shelve The High Sign; as a result, Keaton's second film One Week (1920) was promoted in the press as his "first." But despite his mixed feelings about The High Sign, Keaton especially liked the gag of the giant newspaper that he unfolds, and later reused it for live stage shows.

Director: Eddie Cline, Buster Keaton
Screenplay: Eddie Cline, Buster Keaton
Cinematography: Elgin Lessley (uncredited)
Cast: Buster Keaton (Our Hero), Bartine Burkett (Miss Nickelnurser, uncredited), Charles Dorety (Gang member, uncredited), Ingram B. Pickett (Leader of Buzzards, uncredited), Al St. John (Man on beach during target practice, uncredited).
BW-21m.

by James Steffen