“Aldo Ray is simply unbelievable. That leaves Hayworth, in great form, to carry the picture with her magnetism, personality, and sensuality. These come through most effectively in the handful of musical numbers, especially the incredible The Heat Is On, one of the most blazingly erotic dance segments to be put on the screen. Give Hayworth the chance to set the screen on fire and she certainly delivers; it can’t raise Miss Sadie Thompson to great art, but it does make it memorable.” Craig Butler: Miss Sadie Thompson bei AllMovie (englisch)
“She catches the feel of the title character well, even to braving completely deglamorizing makeup, costuming and photography to fit her physical appearance to that of the bawdy, shady lady that was Sadie Thompson.” Vgl. Miss Sadie Thompson. In: Variety, 1953.
