Perry Kate
Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
SpuffyWeb
Sadly Over-hyped
Humbersi
The first must-see film of the year.
deickemeyer
A dramatic little love story in the costume of the 70's and which happens to be set in the West. The atmosphere is truly Western, but this is merely because the producer, having chosen to set his situation in a gold diggings country, used backgrounds of all kinds in perfect keeping. There are but three characters in the foreground, the daughter of the innkeeper and belle of the mining village (Little Mary); a young blade, perhaps a gambler or a speculator, who is dressed in a frock coat and topper (William Walthall), and a miner of a rather rough but honest appearance. These two men are the "friends," and the picture's chief object is to set forth the character of the young blade. He holds women in more or less contempt; but for his friend he holds a just respect. It is a realistic picture that appeals to the mind rather than to the emotions. A commendable picture; it will interest all kinds of people. The gallery will like the atmosphere; the critical will enjoy its matter. - The Moving Picture World, October 5, 1912
adt125
When love leaves, then a woman needs to take the first best thing that next comes along, when you are out in the west. Doesn't take long for the abandoned woman to take up with another man.Also seems to be a mate-ship message here from Griffith's - don't let a woman come between you and a mate, in the Wild West at least.Barrymore looks like John Wayne in this, until the hat comes off. It is again interesting to see that Mary Pickford moves slowly and also uses her hands often and tenderly when with another - a habit of hers. I wonder if she was consciously slowing her movements down to make her movements appear smoother on screen. It is noticeable in a number of her films.Also nice to be able to lip read Pickford when she is talking from the stairs..."Come up stairs" "come on"I have only seen a a bad quality copy of this film but it is most obvious that Mary Pickford would have looked absolutely gorgeous in the clear fresh film of 1912.We shouldn't forget the cowboy at the front in the saloon, who adds a lot of character to the scenes. It looked pretty much like Elmer Booth who was another fine up and coming actor of the time. He was the lead in a excellent little film with Mary Pickford - The Narrow Road (1912). Sadly he died as a passenger in a car accident in 1915. As reported in the New York Times of the day.
Michael_Elliott
Friends (1912) *** (out of 4) D.W. Griffith film about a gold digger (Mary Pickford) who goes after two men (Henry B. Walthall, Lionel Barrymore) not knowing they are friends. Griffith does a great job at building up the ending, although there's a little too much sugar on it for the film to really work but then again, you come to expect this out of the director. Pickford is downright delightful as the woman after gold while Walthall and Barrymore are great as usual. Harry Carey has a small role.Available on DVD through Kino.
wes-connors
Early film directed by D.W. Griffith; it stars Mary Pickford as an upstairs saloon girl who has a great time with dandy patron Henry B. Walthall. Then, he leaves her for business opportunities up "north." Ms. Pickford is devastated, of course. On his way of town, Mr. Walthall meets old friend Lionel Barrymore, who is on his way in town. Ironically, his friend's abandoned girl catches Mr. Barrymore's eye. Later, Walthall returns… Classic plot involving two "Friends" in love with the same girl. Pickford and her suitors play it quaintly. The film endeavors to show the lasting friendship between men Walthall and Barrymore. Yet, Pickford steals the theme - making it more a study of her character's sacrifice. ****** Friends (9/23/12) D.W. Griffith ~ Mary Pickford, Henry B. Walthall, Lionel Barrymore
