All Creatures Great and Small

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

... 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 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)

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!