Most critics respond warmly to Written on the Wind, with praise clustering around Sirk’s forceful melodrama and the way its images express the characters’ passions. Colour, shadow and expressive lighting receive particular attention, alongside Russell Metty’s camerawork. The performances also draw strong notices, especially Robert Stack’s troubled wealthy man and Dorothy Malone’s portrayal of anger and desire. Several reviews find substance beneath the excess, stressing sympathy for the volatile family members or criticism of the American Dream.
The clearest disagreement concerns how much emotional depth accompanies that excess. Slant Magazine relishes the audacity but finds the film comparatively shallow in its understanding of people. The ratings range from mixed to strongly positive, with no negative notices recorded. The two mixed reviews are inaccessible, however, so their specific objections cannot be established; the available criticism supports a clearer account of the enthusiasm than of the reservations.