All Creatures Great and Small

... 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....

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.

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!

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.

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.