 The film was released outside the United States (where there was no aversion to musicals) as a full musical comedy early in 1931.Mordaunt Hall, critic for "The New York Times", gave the film a generally unfavorable review, writing, "What little there is in the way of entertainment in 'Side Show,' the picture now at the Strand, is delivered by Charles Butterworth, but even this clever comedian is handicapped by the hardy efforts of others to arouse laughter.