This really seems to capture the spirit of pre war Yorkshire. It really feels as if they were back in the thirties with little of the outside world impinging on them.By the way this was shown in cinemas in the UK.Definitely not a tv movie.
10 Reviews
Beautiful and Quaint
bengal29 August 2001
This was a light-hearted, sometimes moving, quaint little period piece. Based explicitly on Herriot's surprise bestselling autobiography of the same name, All Creatures Great and Small is a wholesome family film. The book is a collection of stories about Herriot's beginning years as an assistant vet, and the movie is basically the same. Very pure, and very enjoyable. I recommend it for families, and especially for animal-loving families. This movie won't change your life, but it will entertain you. (Watch for a great performance by a younger Anthony Hopkins, who plays the quirky Veterinary Surgeon that Harriot goes to work for)
A Great 70s Classic.
missrljane8 March 2002
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, at great surprise. I would not recommend it to fans of the action genre but everyone else should take a look, especially animal lovers, don't think for a second you need to have read Herriot's book. The actors themselves provide all the entertainment with their dialogue (except the bits with the animals and farmers). It is actually an emotional film and makes you involved with the characters. A word of warning, since it covers a significant amount of time without making it that clear don't leave the room. I haven't made this film sound as good as it is but believe me it's great. Simon Ward and Brian Stirner are very good as James Herriot and Tristan respectively but Anthony Hopkins steals every scene he's in (as always) as Siegfried, who constantly confuses Herriot by changing what he said the night before and manages to insult all the women. The scene where he is chatting up his girlfriend is a classic example of how NVC can be better than actually saying something. So long as you know what you are expecting this film is excellent.
A great British classic, watch it.
A great British classic, watch it.
Superb, if a bit on the short side
nowego31 December 2010
Being a fan of the series I found a copy of this extremely difficult to find film while I was watching the series and was very happy that I was able to watch it.
I would have liked to see is that it was a bit longer and covered a bit more of the life of James Harriot. A very young Anthony Hopkins was superb as Siegfried and Simon Ward and Lisa Harrow as James and Helen made the movie very entertaining. I would have loved to see Simon Ward as James in the series, nothing against Christopher Timothy.
The series features Tristan much more than the movie and this would be the only drawback I could find about it. Tristan is one of my favourite characters in the series.
I would have liked to see is that it was a bit longer and covered a bit more of the life of James Harriot. A very young Anthony Hopkins was superb as Siegfried and Simon Ward and Lisa Harrow as James and Helen made the movie very entertaining. I would have loved to see Simon Ward as James in the series, nothing against Christopher Timothy.
The series features Tristan much more than the movie and this would be the only drawback I could find about it. Tristan is one of my favourite characters in the series.
All Things Bright and Beautiful
morrison-dylan-fan12 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Although I've seen a good number of eps from the classic TV series since childhood,I for some reason have always missed the chance to see the original big screen version of James Herriot's books. Looking at the flicks being shown over X-Mas/New Year,I noticed a screening of the movie in among animated titles,which led to me going down to the farm.
The plot-1937:
Recently passing his exams, newly qualified veterinarian James Herriot goes oop North for a job at Siegfried Farnon's practice in Yorkshire. Welcomed into the practice,Herriot soon finds himself getting stuck into taking care of all creatures big and small.
View on the film:
Filmed "Oop Yorkshire" director Claude Whatham & cinematographer Peter Suschitzky breath in the rural air with a misty atmosphere putting the viewer down on the farm. Allowing the viewer to see the hard work that vets do in a (mostly ) matter of fact manner, Whatham wonderfully brushes up the late 30's setting,lit by the cosy lack of modern machines which give the movie a fairy tale way of life. Threaded from two of Herriot's books,the screenplay by Hugh Whitemore flips the pages at a rapid pace.
Whilst this stops the film from feeling dry,it also causes for there to be no feeling of a real friendship growing between the vets,due to any tantalisingly small moments being quickly skipped over. Joined by the charming Simon Ward as Herriot, Anthony Hopkins steals every scene he is in as the pipe smoking Farnon,thanks to Hopkins giving Farnon an excellent manner at home with the simple things in life,as the vets help all creatures,great and small.
The plot-1937:
Recently passing his exams, newly qualified veterinarian James Herriot goes oop North for a job at Siegfried Farnon's practice in Yorkshire. Welcomed into the practice,Herriot soon finds himself getting stuck into taking care of all creatures big and small.
View on the film:
Filmed "Oop Yorkshire" director Claude Whatham & cinematographer Peter Suschitzky breath in the rural air with a misty atmosphere putting the viewer down on the farm. Allowing the viewer to see the hard work that vets do in a (mostly ) matter of fact manner, Whatham wonderfully brushes up the late 30's setting,lit by the cosy lack of modern machines which give the movie a fairy tale way of life. Threaded from two of Herriot's books,the screenplay by Hugh Whitemore flips the pages at a rapid pace.
Whilst this stops the film from feeling dry,it also causes for there to be no feeling of a real friendship growing between the vets,due to any tantalisingly small moments being quickly skipped over. Joined by the charming Simon Ward as Herriot, Anthony Hopkins steals every scene he is in as the pipe smoking Farnon,thanks to Hopkins giving Farnon an excellent manner at home with the simple things in life,as the vets help all creatures,great and small.
Lovely
Earthmonkey1627 April 2004
The movie is nice, not world class, but shows you a splendid young Anthony Hopkins as Sigfried Farnon.
This movie never reaches the level of the series (which were started after, because of(?) this movie) It was a bit too hasty, no real depth in the characters, most things you have to deduct from conversation. The real Herriot lovers are waiting for the explosions of Sigfried, especially if you ever saw Anthony Hopkins in action, but he is surprisingly sedate almost throughout this movie.
I would recommend the books, and the series, but this is an enjoyable movie non the less.
This movie never reaches the level of the series (which were started after, because of(?) this movie) It was a bit too hasty, no real depth in the characters, most things you have to deduct from conversation. The real Herriot lovers are waiting for the explosions of Sigfried, especially if you ever saw Anthony Hopkins in action, but he is surprisingly sedate almost throughout this movie.
I would recommend the books, and the series, but this is an enjoyable movie non the less.
It shouldn't happen to a vet
Prismark1021 December 2018
This television movie was very much the precursor to the very successful BBC television series.
Simon Ward plays young James Herriot as he begins a job in the Yorkshire countryside in the veterinary practice of the irascible Siegfried Farnon (Anthony Hopkins.)
Siegfried tends to give him conflicting advice as James tackles household pets and farm animals. Some of them are not happy with the young and inexperienced upstart.
James also finds romance with Helen as he tries to woo her, unsuccessfully at first.
It is an episodic film and condensed. Some of the characters are underused. Tristan Farnon is very much relegated to the background.
Simon Ward does well as the nice enough vet but Hopkins steals the film.
It is an appealing movie but nowhere near as good as the television series which was outstanding.
Simon Ward plays young James Herriot as he begins a job in the Yorkshire countryside in the veterinary practice of the irascible Siegfried Farnon (Anthony Hopkins.)
Siegfried tends to give him conflicting advice as James tackles household pets and farm animals. Some of them are not happy with the young and inexperienced upstart.
James also finds romance with Helen as he tries to woo her, unsuccessfully at first.
It is an episodic film and condensed. Some of the characters are underused. Tristan Farnon is very much relegated to the background.
Simon Ward does well as the nice enough vet but Hopkins steals the film.
It is an appealing movie but nowhere near as good as the television series which was outstanding.
Not As Good As The TV Show
Theo Robertson12 April 2004
This film version of James Herriot`s series of novels isn`t much cop compared to the television show of the same . This movie is the prior piece but there`s nothing very memorable about . The plot is more or less composed of " Will young James get married to his girlfriend or not ? " , hardly the most original or compelling premise for a movie , and we`re treated to little in the way of these blackly comical scenes of animals and their owners having mishaps that made the TV show enjoyable . Perhaps the worst problem is that Tristan ( Played by boyish mischief in the show by Peter Davison ) is more or less a peripheral character in this movie
The cast are passable ( Simon West was rather famous when this was produced while Anthony Hopkins was almost totally unknown ) but they seem to lack the flair that Christopher Timothy , Robert Hardy and Peter Davison brought to the long running series
The cast are passable ( Simon West was rather famous when this was produced while Anthony Hopkins was almost totally unknown ) but they seem to lack the flair that Christopher Timothy , Robert Hardy and Peter Davison brought to the long running series
Poor in comparison to tv series...
timothy-price-794-58132826 December 2020
... mainly due to the casting, and the 'posh English gent' version of James (and Tristan). Simon Ward dreadfully miscast and actually quite unlikeable. Helen wasn't portrayed as a real Farmer either. The only one that carries it is Anthony Hopkins. Honestly the tv series, and especially the new 2020 version is so much better. They don't even make as much out of the fabulous Yorkshire Countryside. All in all a poor attempt - not a great reflection of the brilliant Books, paying very little attention to the characters as portrayed by the real 'James Herriot....
Awful Adaptation
knockdolian-676451 January 2024
Compared to the latest TV adaptation this is absolute rubbish. James Herriot was a Scot who spoke with a soft Scottish burr not a posh bloke from London. Avoid at all costs! And what part of Yorkshire does Helen come from? I can't think why the original James Herriot put his name to it! It lacks the charm and good feeling of even the first series with Christopher Timothy. Anthony Hopkins is miscast as Siegfried Farnon - even the accomplished actor that he is can't save this complete car crash of a film adaptation. Bland, boring and shockingly bad. Give it a wide berth and do yourself a favour!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
