The briefness of The Mender of Nets actually belies Griffith's truly expansive talent. Such is the quality of this succinct gem's director that one could imagine a longer version being unmarred by any kind of dullness. That's because Griffith's images are consistently intoxicating and expressive, gracing this early love struggle with palpable dread, sorrow and passion. In many ways validating frequent Griffith collaborator Lillian Gish's esteemed valuation of pre-talkie cinema, the film's swell.