What did critics think of Louise Brooks and The City Gone Wild (1927)? Opinion of the film was positive, and the film proved somewhat 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.
“At the same time James Cruze, the director, has caught the spirit of the theme and has brought to the screen a thrilling story visualizing some of the events that formed headlines in all newspapers of the country some months back.” — A. F. Gillaspey, San Francisco Bulletin
“Louise Brooks is exactly placed as his tough sweetheart. She is a brassy, hard little beauty and fits this type absolutely.” — George C. Warren, San Francisco Chronicle
“Louise Brooks, as Gallagher’s girl, walks away with the feminine laurels.” — Josephine Hughston, San Jose Mercury Herald
“Louise Brooks, the pert flapper, completely shadows the more important role allotted to Marietta Millner, and the ‘girl of Gunner Gallagher’ brief as her part is, is a far more intriguing character than the society girl of Miss Millner.” — Leona Pollack, Omaha World Herald
“Another distinct ornament of the cast is Louise Brooks, who lends considerable vividness to her portrait of a lady of the underworld. In fact, she gives so good an interpretation of the part that Marietta Millner, supposedly the feminine lead, actually relapses into only secondary importance.” — Gordon Hillman, Boston Daily Advertiser
“Kohler does some superb work as a gangster and he is aided by Louise Brooks, whose star continues in the ascendant.” — Charles J. Richardson, Detroit Times
“Louise Brooks is well cast as the clever sweetheart of a dangerous gangster. Fred Kohler, ‘wolf of the screen,’ is that gangster, and his work is exceptionally good.” – P. H.., Knoxville Journal
“Fred Kohler and Louise Brooks are excellent as a gunman and his girl, who are responsible for much of the vivid action.” — Pettersen Marzoni, Birmingham Age
“Louise Brooks gives an interesting characterization of a girl who is more crooked than the Hudson River. She is Gallagher’s pal and maintains the hardboiled attitude a woman of the underworld probably would have toward life. Louise is by far the most fascinating member of the cast of this picture.” — Regina Cannon, New York American
“Louise Brooks, that decorative and electric brunette, acts the part of the sweetheart of the chief gangster – acts the part terribly. If Miss Brooks doesn’t improve pretty soon she may have my permission to change her birthplace to Joplin.” — Quinn Martin, New York World
“Marietta Millner who will be remembered as the leading lady of We’re All Gamblers, again appears in the principal feminine role, although perky Louise Brooks as ‘Snuggles Joy,’ the sweetheart of the leading crook character in the picture, easily walks away with feminine honors.” — H. H. O., Ann Arbor Times News
“Louise Brooks, a little thinner than usual, but her own piquant self just the same, takes second honors to Meighan. She takes the part of the gunman’s girl, and a cold-blooded tough she is.” — Lansing Capital News
“Thomas Meighan, Marietta Millner and Louise Brooks have the principal roles. . . . Miss Brooks walks away with all honors among the women members of the cast. She is all that is required of the vengeful ‘Gallagher’s Girl’.” — J. M. L., Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Tough Fred Kohler and Brunette Beauty Louise Brooks are part of it, a whole lot of it.” — B. A. W., Ohio State Journal