Roger Ebert similarly demurred that the movie "elegantly composed visuals, the stately progression of the scenes, the deliberate understatement of the dialogue, are all as "faithful" to James as a film can be. But that's exactly the film's problem: Ivory hasn't found a way to make his own film, and has ended up with a classroom version of James, a film with no juice or life of its own". Writing for the New York Times, Vincent Canby compared unfavorably the film to the novel: "The beauty and precision of James's prose that persuades us his characters are as alive today as they were in 1878. There's nothing quaint or picturesque or foolish about them. They are battlers. This is the feeling that's missing from the otherwise remarkably intelligent, careful screen version of "The Europeans" that has been adapted with skill by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and directed with affection by James Ivory." John Pym reviewing the film commented:" For all its engaging sidelong playfulness, the beauty of its settings, some excellent performances, there is in Ivory's "Europeans" also a sense of genuine characters trapped somewhat awkwardly by the conventions of their lines." "The Europeans" received many nominations but no wins. It was nominated for the "Palme d'Or" at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival; for Best Costume Design (Judy Moorcroft) at the 1980 Academy Awards; for Best Foreign Film at the 1980 Golden Globes Awards; and for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design and Best Supporting Actress at the 1980 BAFTA Awards. In 2003, a special edition DVD of the film was released as part of The Criterion Collection. The special features include an on-camera interview with the Merchant-Ivory team: Ismail Merchant, James Ivory, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins. The DVD also includes: "Sweet Sounds " (1976), a 29-minute documentary film directed by "The Europeans"' composer Richard Robbins. It follows a handful of children chosen for a music development class as they are instructed by their music teachers at NewYork's Mannes College of Music Preparatory School in New York City of which Richard Robbins was then director.