With the Enemy's Help (1912) Super 8 unframed scan

When a discouraged prospector (Charles West) finally finds gold, he rushes home to tell his wife (Blanche Sweet) and children. During this time, claim-jumpers Faro Kate (Mary Pickford) and her scoundrel husband (Charles Hill Mailes) swoop in on the spot. When the prospector is attacked by one half of the devious duo, his wife rushes to town seeking aid. Her wagon breaks down, and she hitches a ride with Faro Kate, unknowingly receiving help from her enemy.

This is the third film directed by Wilfred Lucas, a Biograph player frequently utilized by D.W. Griffith. Some of Lucas's memorable characters in Griffith films include the fisherman in The Primal Call (1911), Bruteforce in Man's Genesis and Mike in the Transformation of Mike (both 1912).

Lucas, while not formally apprenticed, learned the craft of directing through close collaboration with D.W. Griffith, having worked with him since 1908. Griffith was often keen to give actors within his inner circle the chance to break into other roles and responsibilities related to the craft. To name a few, Christy Cabanne, Frank Powell and Raoul Walsh began their directional careers with Griffith's support. Numerous actors, including Mary Pickford, would write scenarios for Biograph films. Lucas would receive a co-writer's credit on Griffith's Enoch Arden a month after this film's release.

My print of 'Enemy's Help' features no distributor or manufacturer branding on its box, reel, or within the film itself. I'd initially suspected it was a Blackhawk transfer, but Blackhawk branding (and the usual wordy text intro) would've been present someplace. Apart from the title on the blank brown box, the only other identifier is the word 'Breakspear' written in pencil. And, most eerily, the words 'Stars look down' are scratched into the leader (not present in this upload). Chills subsided when I realized the leader could've been previously spliced onto a home-gauge copy of the 1940 Carol Reed film of the same name (let's hope it's that). Oh well... I'm just glad this film has survived!

Scan completed with a Wolverine Pro at 2K; Scan completed in September 2025.

To view a copy with very slight improvements to quality, see link below.
   • With the Enemy's Help (1912) 8mm unframed ...