 The film premiered in New York City in the week of December 27, 1940, and it was shown in select theaters in December, but MGM had agreed to hold its general release until January 1941 in order to not compete with the stage play, which was no longer playing on Broadway, but was touring the country.It went into general American release on January 17, 1941.It broke a box office record at Radio City Music Hall by taking in $600,000 in just six weeks.