What did critics think of Louise Brooks and A Girl in Every Port (1928)? Opinion of the film was positive, and the film proved popular. Here is a survey, in the form of a number of quotes, from some of the newspapers and magazines of the time. All sources are American.
“. . . is another one of those productions where two old-fashioned sea dogs try to out-drink, out-fight and out-etc. each other in various and sundry ports of the world. This particular presentation is funny at times, and made pleasant by a neat array of new faces and figures.” — Pare Lorentz, Judge
“Then comes THE woman. She is Louise Brooks, pert, fascinating young creature, who does high and fancy diving for a living. . . . Miss Brooks ‘takes’ our hero in somewhat the manner that Grant took Richmond. . . . Louise Brooks has a way of making a junior vamp and infantile scarlet lady seem most attractive.” — Regina Cannon, New York American
“Miss Brooks has the longest session in front of the camera. This gal is solid with the jellybean trade. She is often and favorably mentioned whenever the boys go into executive session on the opposite sex. With all the merited praise of her face and figure little has been said to date about Miss Brooks’ acting. It’s one of those things you don’t mention.” — Land, Variety
“A Girl in Every Port is a good little yarn that suits Mr. McLaglen better than other things he has had since What Price Glory? . . . Various damsels rage through the action, but to Louise Brooks falls, as should, the plum feminine characterization. She pulls it off in her customary deft fashion – and the enchanting bob in which she first appeared before the movie camera.” — Mae Tinee, Chicago Tribune
“Louise Brooks is by no means the only member of her sex in this production. She has nine or ten rivals, for the story takes us to more than one port. But Louise draws the only ‘name’ role. The others are just girls. . . . Louise Brooks, with her pert appearance, is most satisfactory as the leading charmer.” — Genevieve Harris, Chicago Evening Post
“Your correspondent, partial to all the McLaglen performances, had a grand time watching A Girl in Every Port, in which so much loveliness is contributed by that dark young venus, Miss Brooks.” — Arthur Sheekman, Chicago Daily Journal
“A Girl in Every Port with Victor McLaglen on the screen. Both show that filmland’s citadel is treating the weaker sex with abandon.” — The Argonaut
“The picture fairly overflows with feminine near-stars. The outstanding feminine role is played very well, indeed, by Louise Brooks.” — Philadelphia Inquirer
“In fact, the picture is a series of episodes admirably hung together. The main interest of the story comes when Spike meets his rival, and ‘the’ girl — Louise Brooks. From then on the picture might well be entitled ‘A Text Book for Pugilistic Aspirants.’ In a word, the picture is very amusing and eminently well worth seeing; well directed with Miss Brooks and Mr. McLaglen forming a very delightful contrast.” — H. F. S., Harvard Crimson
“The girl is Louise Brooks, who could supply half the so-called stars of Hollywood with ‘IT’ and still have enough left to outclass Clara Bow.” — Washington Times
“They become fast friends as a result of their enforced comradeship in fists until Spike falls for a Marseilles mama whom his partner had known in Coney Island. Louise Brooks does a fine performance as Marie, formerly Tillie, who is still crazy about Spike’s buddy, but is hard-boiled enough to work Spike for his hard-earned cash.” — AL, Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Louise Brooks, Leila Hyams, and many, many more are present to liven things up; but not even Louise makes more than a dent in the big, big heart of the two sailor-boys.” — Screenland