eden’s film blog

 The High Sign early 20th century conventions portrayed accurately - juxtaposition of exterior surroundings of the poor and rich; upper class elderly man and daughter live in rich home with posh furniture and butler working for them but working class men (the blinking buzzards) hideout in basement of shooting range in small enclosed scarcely furnished room. also beginning when Keaton is kicked off of the train, workers traveled around to find work. juxtaposition between tall, supposedly scary and threatening gang members in small enclosed room adds to comedic effect, results in them not seeming so threatening after all. repetition of the gang crowded around small spaces e.g. all of them outside the house looking through the window waiting for Keaton's character to carry out the murder - uses framing to tell us the story house full of moving walls and trap doors, elaborate set design using secret passageways; distorts reality for the audience. shots include multiple floors of the ho...

One week meaning is created in the frame itself, rather than through editing or cuts editing is extremely minimal, as invisible as possible, only present when completely necessary editing used is all for functional purposes rather than to create meaning; for example the opening shot cuts briefly to a close up of a new character before cutting to another long take of them getting in the car. so used to advance the plot rather than have an effect on how the audience view the events. the framing fits the size of the joke, mostly wide shots to show all the action happening, closest shot is the medium shot towards the end majority of, if not all Keaton's emotions and expressions are expressed through exaggerated body language and movement  size contrast is as a comedic effect - Keatons small stature is used to an advantage vs tall fatty man Keaton uses several silent comedy conventions - stuns, falls, special effects, chase sequences, set design, using mis en scene for jokes breaks 4th...