John Carman of the "Los Angeles Daily News" wrote that "at times, "Emma" seems to be a "Melrose Place" for the drawing-room set." He also noted it to be "scrumptiously filmed," calling it "a feast for the eyes and a balm for the heart." The "Daily Herald" however gave a negative review, and believed it was the worst of the three versions released. The reviewer still praised it for being "natural, faithful and likable," but criticized Strong as miscast. Davies, remarked the newspaper, "has written a pithy, direct "Emma" that, unlike his script for "Pride and Prejudice," clocks in at a fraction of the time it takes to read the book."