 The film was a box office success, described by film historian Elizabeth Kendall as a "highbrow hit", although a "New York Times" article in November 1934 termed it a commercial disappointment for Universal.Mordaunt Hall of "The New York Times" said the film "moves along with lusty energy, the scenes being so complete that none of them seems a fraction of a minute too long.Parts of the stage work have perforce been omitted, but where this occurs Mr. Rice and the director, William Wyler, leave nothing in doubt."