"Massacre" was a brave attempt to show the problems faced by American Indians on reservations and especially how those bought up in a white man's world coped. Richard Barthelmess excelled at playing oppressed men who slowly find a way to stand up for their beliefs - "Tol'able David" and "The Cabin in the Cotton" - and he was great in this movie about a cynical, educated Native American, who is wise to the white man's world but all at sea in the reservation.
College educated Joe "Thunder Horse" is the chief attraction of the Wild West exhibition at the World's Fair. He is being romanced by Norma (played to perfection by Claire Dodd), she parades him around as her latest fad and he is cynical enough to play along with her ("my Red Skin" - "my Red Lips"). He hasn't been on the reservation since he was a child but is summoned back because his father is dying. Once he arrives he is appalled at the way his people are treated - worse than third class citizens. There are the usual characterizations - Quissenberry, corrupt manager of the reservation, hiding his hate under a "kindly uncle" veneer (Dudly Digges, who also played the evil prison warden in "The Mayor of Hell"(1933)), an unfeeling doctor (Arthur Hohl) whose jittery behaviour seems to mask other problems and the merciless undertaker, Shanks (Sidney Toler) whose rape of Joe's fifteen year old sister, brings the movie to a thrilling climax.
Joe captures Shanks and ties him to the car where he takes him for a bumpy ride - unfortunately (or fortunately) Shanks dies and Joe is held in prison, knowing whatever the verdict he will be lynched. Joe is helped to escape by Lydia (Ann Dvorak), a feisty, educated Indian ("Don't call me Girlie"!!!) who works at the manager's office. She is under no illusion about the corruption which is rife on the reservation and helps Joe escape so he can bring their plight to the attention of Washington. Once there he finds sympathetic ears (Henry O'Neil etc) and eventually the evil doers are bought to justice. This was one of Warner's "social conscience" movies and it worked very well.
Ann Dvorak was now at a point in her career where she was being thrown into supporting roles in what Warners considered "any old movies". She was serving out her Warners contract and they had not forgiven her for taking an "extended" vacation in 1933. When she returned she found she had missed out on a role in "Cynara" but her performances in films like "Massacre" and "Housewife" have since gained respect.
Highly, Highly Recommended.
College educated Joe "Thunder Horse" is the chief attraction of the Wild West exhibition at the World's Fair. He is being romanced by Norma (played to perfection by Claire Dodd), she parades him around as her latest fad and he is cynical enough to play along with her ("my Red Skin" - "my Red Lips"). He hasn't been on the reservation since he was a child but is summoned back because his father is dying. Once he arrives he is appalled at the way his people are treated - worse than third class citizens. There are the usual characterizations - Quissenberry, corrupt manager of the reservation, hiding his hate under a "kindly uncle" veneer (Dudly Digges, who also played the evil prison warden in "The Mayor of Hell"(1933)), an unfeeling doctor (Arthur Hohl) whose jittery behaviour seems to mask other problems and the merciless undertaker, Shanks (Sidney Toler) whose rape of Joe's fifteen year old sister, brings the movie to a thrilling climax.
Joe captures Shanks and ties him to the car where he takes him for a bumpy ride - unfortunately (or fortunately) Shanks dies and Joe is held in prison, knowing whatever the verdict he will be lynched. Joe is helped to escape by Lydia (Ann Dvorak), a feisty, educated Indian ("Don't call me Girlie"!!!) who works at the manager's office. She is under no illusion about the corruption which is rife on the reservation and helps Joe escape so he can bring their plight to the attention of Washington. Once there he finds sympathetic ears (Henry O'Neil etc) and eventually the evil doers are bought to justice. This was one of Warner's "social conscience" movies and it worked very well.
Ann Dvorak was now at a point in her career where she was being thrown into supporting roles in what Warners considered "any old movies". She was serving out her Warners contract and they had not forgiven her for taking an "extended" vacation in 1933. When she returned she found she had missed out on a role in "Cynara" but her performances in films like "Massacre" and "Housewife" have since gained respect.
Highly, Highly Recommended.