Most critics warmly praise Powell and Pressburger’s romantic fantasy, with agreement strongest on its visual invention and its treatment of love and war’s human cost. The contrast between Technicolor Earth and black-and-white heaven draws repeated admiration, alongside the otherworldly sets, special effects and theatrical staging. The reviews also value the humour and charm of the performances, finding that the romance gives warmth to the film’s political questions about Britain, America and their relationship.
Reservations concern how insistently the film explains its ideas, rather than any lack of ambition. The Playlist finds some parallels heavy-handed but remains enthusiastic; Variety offers the sharp dissent, judging the promising opening to give way to excessive talk, pretension and insufficient humanity. The spread is therefore wide, though the disagreement is concentrated: most critics find feeling and wit in the same elaborate fantasy that the negative review regards as too intellectual.