The story of the massacre of an Indian village, and the ensuing retaliation.The story of the massacre of an Indian village, and the ensuing retaliation.The story of the massacre of an Indian village, and the ensuing retaliation.
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- TriviaThis was released in UK over a year before it was released in USA.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood (1980)
Featured review
Well-Crafted Action Scenes With An Effective Message
One of D.W. Griffith's earlier attempts at making a feature longer than on or two reels, this has well-crafted action scenes, and while some of it is surprisingly morally ambiguous, it also effectively communicates an anti-violence message. It's similar to the better-known "Battle at Elderbush Gulch" in following the build-up to a battle between Indians and settlers, and in focusing on the individuals caught up in the ensuing violence. Although the action and human drama are probably not quite as good in this one, of the two features this one takes an especially even-handed approach to the conflict.
The story starts with a Griffith standby, a woman choosing between two suitors, who are then both part of a wagon train heading west, with the rejected suitor now a scout with the wagon train's military escort. The main story shows a brutal cavalry raid on a nearly defenseless Indian village, followed by the revenge attack on the wagon train. The latter attack is an extended sequence that fills up an entire reel or so of film. The scenario is supposed to have been based on events connected with General Custer's final defeat, but as it stands, there are no direct references to the specific historical events, so that is either a misconception or else an advertising technique.
Whatever other views Griffith had (and is often deservedly criticized for), he was always effective in communicating the horrifying effects of war and armed conflicts, especially on families. In both attack sequences, he takes pains to depict the ways that the unarmed, especially women and children, are senselessly killed and maimed. He also has some memorable shots of individuals and their actions when they are under attack.
In this particular feature, although more screen time is devoted to the attack on the wagon train, both attacks are treated in the same manner. In each case, he does not lay blame on the individuals involved in the attack, instead concentrating on the sufferings that they inflict, suggesting perhaps that if they stopped to realize what they were doing, things might be a lot different.
The clear-cut message overshadows somewhat the technical accomplishments of the movie. Griffith would soon do even better from the technical viewpoint, but even this feature already succeeds well in depicting a chaotic battle for an extended period.
The story starts with a Griffith standby, a woman choosing between two suitors, who are then both part of a wagon train heading west, with the rejected suitor now a scout with the wagon train's military escort. The main story shows a brutal cavalry raid on a nearly defenseless Indian village, followed by the revenge attack on the wagon train. The latter attack is an extended sequence that fills up an entire reel or so of film. The scenario is supposed to have been based on events connected with General Custer's final defeat, but as it stands, there are no direct references to the specific historical events, so that is either a misconception or else an advertising technique.
Whatever other views Griffith had (and is often deservedly criticized for), he was always effective in communicating the horrifying effects of war and armed conflicts, especially on families. In both attack sequences, he takes pains to depict the ways that the unarmed, especially women and children, are senselessly killed and maimed. He also has some memorable shots of individuals and their actions when they are under attack.
In this particular feature, although more screen time is devoted to the attack on the wagon train, both attacks are treated in the same manner. In each case, he does not lay blame on the individuals involved in the attack, instead concentrating on the sufferings that they inflict, suggesting perhaps that if they stopped to realize what they were doing, things might be a lot different.
The clear-cut message overshadows somewhat the technical accomplishments of the movie. Griffith would soon do even better from the technical viewpoint, but even this feature already succeeds well in depicting a chaotic battle for an extended period.
helpful•80
- Snow Leopard
- Jan 30, 2006
Details
- Runtime20 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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