Mise-en-Scene

• One of Keaton's trademarks was mechanical comedy, displaying his fascination for engineering and gadgets - mechanical objects used in gags and may take on a dual purpose.
• e.g. in High Sign- the household furniture and parts take on additional functions such as the floor having a trap door.
• e.g In The Scarecrow - all the mechanical objects in the house have dual functions, being exploited for comedic effect, such as the gramophone player which also functions as an oven.
• e.g. In The High Sign - the house resembles a dolls house, with the screen split into four in perfect symmetry, which enables the audience to witness events in each room simultaneously.
• Objects and props in Keaton's films can function as characters and appear to take on a life of their own.
• -> evident in the houses in One Week, The High Sign and The Scarecrow which all seem to come to life , esp. One Week where it seems to conspire against Keaton and his bride - the hurricane causes the house to revolve manically.
• Keaton utilises his small frame to make objects seems more imposing than in reality e.g the merry-go-round or train in The High Sign, likewise, the ever-expanding newspaper that engulfs Keaton for absurd comedic affect.