Bosley Crowther, film critic for "The New York Times", wrote that it was simply too much Gable. "you like Clark Gable very much, you are going to find him monotonous in this hour-and-fifty-five-minute film... [he is off the screen for all of five minutes—maybe eight. The rest of the time, he's on." He liked Deborah Kerr rather more: "We could do with a little more of her. Not that her rather radiant passion for this well-tailored roughneck makes much sense, but Miss Kerr is a very soothing person and she elevates the tone of the film." He saved his biggest praise for Greenstreet and Menjou, calling their contributions "entertaining and fascinating."