Most critics respond warmly to Make Way for Tomorrow, with praise centred on the emotional force of an elderly couple’s separation under family and economic pressure. The strongest notices find that feeling earned, stressing the unsentimental treatment of the couple and McCarey’s careful handling of family dynamics. Intimate performances, precise dialogue and small visual cues make everyday awkwardness affecting without requiring broad villains or easy blame.
The available verdicts range from wholehearted admiration to qualified approval, with reservations about performance and occasional overstatement rather than the central dilemma. The AV Club finds some overemphasis on infirmity and self-pity, though these complaints sit within a strongly positive assessment. Variety is cooler, praising Beulah Bondi’s character work but finding Victor Moore less convincing in a serious role. The RogerEbert.com verdict is unavailable, so its recorded score cannot establish a further point of disagreement.