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

The 1912 film Friends, may or may not have been the first film to use a closeup, but it was certainly the first extreme closeup for Mary Pickford. She tells in her autobiography, It was late in the afternoon when Griffith shouted to Billy Bitzer, the cameraman: "Come on Billy, let's have some fun! Move the camera up and get closer to Mary." She had done something different that day herself, putting on a second application of make-up. They took the shot, and Mary couldn't wait to see the results. Back at the studio's projection room, she was shocked at the grotesquely magnified face on the screen, and immediately noticed her excess use of eyebrow pencil and eye shadow. Lionel was just as shocked by his own appearance on the screen, asking Mary "Am I really that fat? She didn't want to answer him, hoping he would let it drop, but he repeated the question insistently, that Mary finally replied, "I'm sorry, Mr.Barrymore, but you are." "Then that does it," declared Barrymore, " no more beer for me." She was also upset with the dress she wore, in Friends, an old dress of her mother's with large balloon sleeves that made it look nearer 1894 than the 1849 called for in the story. Mary Pickford was always hypercritical of her work, especially her early films. The detailed-minded actress worried later, of looking foolish and being laughed at, because of what she considered, the crudeness of her early films. Thank goodness she changed her will, as to not having her movies destroyed and this early Biograph example survives for fans of Pickford and silent film genre to enjoy.

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

This isn't one of the better silent shorts directed by D. W. Griffith for Biograph Studios. While it isn't overacted or sloppy, the script seems to be awfully simplistic and also seems to be missing something--and it seems to be conflict.Mary is in love with a local man, but the man breaks off their relationship to go looking for money and adventure up North. So, naturally, she sees other guys and falls for Barrymore. When the old sweetheart later returns, he finds that she is in love with a new guy and this new guy is also his friend,...so he does the right thing and bows out of the picture. THAT'S IT! Not a lot to this 13 minute flick.