Der Doktor und das liebe Vieh

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.

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

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!

... 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....

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.