Captivating studio-system storytelling encompassing interesting polarities: (love/cruelty, life/death, sanity/insanity).  The story also incorporates an intriguing psychological approach.  Psychology neatly ties together plot developments, characters, relationships, careers and even facilitates the film’s transformative ending.

  Top characterizations from Claude Rains, Ann Sheridan and Maria Ouspenskaya and even Ronald Reagan merits some acting plaudits.

  James Wong Howe’s cinematography smartly captures the appropriate moods throughout.  Wolfgang Korngold’s score adds significant impact – simple and emotionally triumphant, then alternately whispering and eerie.

        » Brent Chastain, Top3films.com