vˈɪnsənt kˈænbi ʌvðə nˈuː jˈɔːɹk tˈaɪmz hˌuː sˈɔː ðə fˈɪlm æt ðə sˈɪksti ˈeɪtθ stɹˈiːt plˈeɪhaʊs ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɛvən, hæd kɹˈɪɾɪsˌaɪzd ðə ɹˈoʊl ʌv ɐlˈeɪn dᵻlˈɑːn æz mˈɪstɚ. klˈaɪn, sˈeɪɪŋ ðæt hiː ɪz nˈiːðɚɹ ˈɪntɹɛstɪŋ nˈɔːɹ mɪstˈɪɹiəs ɪnˈʌf tə hˈoʊld ɐ fˈɪlm təɡˈɛðɚ.
Vincent Canby of The New York Times who saw the film at the 68th Street Playhouse in 1977, had criticized the role of Alain Delon as Mr. Klein, saying that [he] is neither interesting nor mysterious enough to hold a film together.