“W.S. Van Dyke was a major director, both commercially and artistically, though the latter is often downplayed because of the former.... The Milky Way is a major find as the first extant example of his purely dramatic work. Only those of you who know the grimness of the really cheap silent independent films will realise what a really good little film this is, given its budget and economics; but it needs no apology and stands on its own very well. It moves briskly, always a Van Dyke trademark, and it is made with care...and excellent use is made of outdoor locations - both rural and in Los Angeles streets - to keep studio work to a minimum.”