 TV Guide gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, calling it "A grim, often brutal film", while criticizing Bogart's performance as being unsympathetic and Sheridan's role as "thankless".Robert Lord's original screenplay received an Academy Award nomination in 1937, but lost to William Wellman and Robert Carson's work for "A Star Is Born".The National Board of Review named "Black Legion" as the best film of 1937, and Humprey Bogart as the best actor for his work in the film.