--- title: "Written on the Wind: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/written-on-the-wind/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/written-on-the-wind" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Written on the Wind (1956): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 9 reviews: 7 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. 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. ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). The page presents Sirk’s melodrama as a deliriously bold, highly accomplished work. It especially praises Russell Metty’s camerawork and the film’s sympathies for the volatile family members. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/ec35ab2f-5573-5107-a769-e752182c2e56/written-on-the-wind) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2015. Brody presents the film as one of Sirk’s greatest achievements and praises its ironic, operatic vision of American melodrama. He singles out the vivid colors and tangled shadows that turn the characters’ passions into striking visual tableaux. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/movie-of-the-week-written-on-the-wind) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls the film intense, powerful, and well worth seeing. They single out its tightly structured storytelling, expressive lighting, and symbolism. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/written-wind-review/) ## Radio Times — Tom Hutchinson Rating 4/5. Hutchinson praises Sirk’s melodrama as a forceful indictment of the American Dream. He singles out Robert Stack and Dorothy Malone for outstanding portrayals of anger and arousal. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-s4d2ej/written-on-the-wind/) ## Slant Magazine — Eric Henderson Rating 4/5. 4 March 2022. Henderson calls the film Sirk’s giddiest trash entertainment, while finding it the shallowest example of his humanist acuity. He praises its audacious melodrama, especially Marylee’s outrageous courtroom appearance and the film’s unabashed excess. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/written-on-the-wind-blu-ray-review-douglas-sirk/) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1955. The review is strongly positive, praising the film’s script, direction and performances. It singles out Robert Stack’s portrayal of a wealthy, psychologically troubled man as especially compelling. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1955/film/reviews/written-on-the-wind-2-1200417962/) ## Time Out — TR Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The available description presents the film as fresh and modern despite evoking its era. The article text is unavailable, so no further praise or criticism can be identified. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/written-on-the-wind) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page shows only a browser-verification screen, so the critic’s verdict cannot be confirmed. Any praise or criticism is likewise unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-written-on-the-wind-1956) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 12 January 1957. The headline identifies this as a review of the film, but the article text is inaccessible. Its verdict and any specific praise or criticism cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1957/01/12/archives/screen-sad-psychosis-written-on-the-wind-opens-at-capitol.html) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/written-on-the-wind.md