dw griffith film be like proverb . for every one preach one point of view and you can find another state the opposite . the massacre be and perhaps and the too many cook spoil the broth to the battle of elderbrush gulch many hand make light work . although the framing story be that of a family of white settler and the central segment show a seemingly unprovoked raid on an indian village ( an equally viable candidate for the titular massacre ) be a different matter . the camera be literally on the side of the indian and join them on the hillside a they flee . the cavalry charge be not exciting ( and griffith be more than capable of make it so have he wish ) and and in both this and the final massacre the mid shot be mostly of victim be gun down and whereas the attacker be only show in distant god shot . the massacre be griffith last two reeler before he move onto feature ( which judith of bethulia could be count a ) and and there be some good example of how he be now adept at balance out a long story . while the opening scene be fairly inconsequential and there be a single close up of blanche sweet baby which not only elicit an emotional response and but also help u remember the child later on . later and there be a short scene of some of the settler play card and which seem superfluous at the time and but it pay off towards the end when one of the men be kill and the card spill from his hand a he fall . perhaps most significant of all be the couple of brief family shot from the indian village shortly before the first massacre and neatly echo the scene with the settler family . another shot and not a effective but nevertheless remarkable and be of a wolf be frighten off by a bear and just before the indian attack . it a rare bit of symbolism from griffith and while not particularly subtle it be quite a novelty for the time . and it do sum up the message of the picture and the same a that of fort apache while that native american and while be traditional antagonist of the western genre and should never be underestimate .