“Voruntersuchung, before its cinema version, was already famous as a masterpiece for its observation and bright qualities. Max Alsberg, the author of the play from which the film is drawn, was at the time a famous defence lawyer (he committed suicide in the Nazi period). The same quality is to be found in Siodmark’s film, which was forbidden by the Nazis for the extremely detailed depiction of its time”.

(Christa Bandmann and Joe Hembus, Klassiker des deutschen Tonfilms 1930-60, Goldmann Verlag, Munich, 1980)

“Robert Siodmak has learned very much of late. He is maturer, quieter and surer of himself. His forte is in the exact and meticulous rendition of the happenings. He puts it before the audience as if it were life itself, which certainly is a great advantage. But Siodmak remains cold, especially in respect to women. He paints them in moods. Siodmak takes meticulous care of details and thus loses the perspective for the entity”.

(Variety, 5/13/1931)