James Dunn's performance was singled out by many reviews as the pivot around which the film revolves. The "Baltimore Evening Sun" wrote: "Without Dunn, "Bad Girl" would be just another movie. With him, it's something that provokes chuckles, tears, laughs, sighs and everything else that a nice little movie hopes to provoke". The "Los Angeles Times" called Dunn's first starring turn "triumphant", asserting that "no performance has lately equaled the impression made by this rather plain young man, who, aside from having a likable personality, scores a major hit by his ability as an actor". The "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" said of Dunn: "Sincere, honest and natural, his performance is flawless". Rebutting a review that claimed any actor would have succeeded in the "sure-fire part", a "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" reviewer argued: