I can only say that Grizel was the most moving revelation of the gifts of a fresh and hitherto unknown young actress that I have ever encountered…Beauty and pity were the great elements in it, and all seemed to well up as it were spontaneously from the depths of an inexhaustible sensibility.” —Literary critic and film historian Edward Wagenknecht.

"[5] The reviewer called the depiction of Tommy growing from child to man as "simply spectacular."

Variety stated that it must have been "a great pleasure"[6] to record a movie that is so fine and expresses admiration the translation of the book to screen.

The Christian Science Monitor stated the film "respects its original novel that was printed years prior to the movie.

"[7] The author of the article states how Tommy's story is told with "numerous titles but, happily, they are written by someone with an active intelligence."

The reviewer likened the film to The Four Horsemen, The Ole Swimming Hole and Thrums of Long Island.

Robert E. Sherwood, from Life reviewed Sentimental Tommy with a list of pros and cons.