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List Price: $24.98 | | Label: Starz / Anchor Bay
Salesrank: 92992
Released: November 14, 2000 |
| Our Price: $124.89 |
| Used Price: $62.68 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
This television film based on the autobiographical novels of country veterinarian James Herriot predates the popular British TV series of the same name by several years. Shot on location in the picturesque Yorkshire countryside, it is utterly charming and features quite an illustrious cast. Academy Award-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins is terrific as the dedicated, exasperating Dr. Siegfried Farnon, who takes young Herriot, fresh out of a London veterinary college, on as his assistant. Herriot is appealingly played by Simon Ward (perhaps best known as the Duke of Buckingham in The Three Musketeers). The movie opens as Herriot arrives for an interview with Farnon. Dressed in his spotless Saville Row suit, Herriot is immediately swept along on a "horse call" and finds himself treating a messy injury. This is the life that Herriot always dreamed of! Like the series, the movie is a must for animal lovers. (Yes, Mrs. Pumphrey is here with her pampered lap dog, Tricky Woo.) It's also delightfully romantic, as it follows the courtship between Herriot and his bride-to-be, Helen (lovely Lisa Harrow). Droll British humor and authentic period detail cap off a thoroughly satisfying production. --Laura Mirsky
All Creatures Great and Small Reviews:
This movie is awful. 
2007-09-18 - If any of you have seen the All Creatures Great & Small television series, as I have, do not buy this movie. It is downright awful. The actors go through the motions and there is no warmth of the characters in the movie version. It lacks humor and Helen is not at all like the character in the TV series.
Don't waste your money on this movie version.
All Creatures Great ans Small (original movie) 
2007-05-14 - Great additon to our All Creatures Great ans Small collection
PLEASE BUY THIS SO THEY WILL RELEASE MORE!!!
2003-05-23 - I love this series and watch it time and time again - so glad it is on DVD because I wore my audio tapes out.
A pleasurable film in its own right
2002-04-06 - To criticize this delightful film by comparing it to the beloved television series is fairly silly, since the series had the time and scope to flesh out the characters and allow them to develop in a way a single film cannot. The film version, admittedly compressing a leisurely and anecdotal book into a two-hour overview, nevertheless does a terrific job of capturing the pace and character of these amiable vets and their clients and the scenic Yorkshire countryside that made the books so appealing. The cast is altogether excellent. The television series, which comes out on DVD in May 2002, is not to be missed. This film is likewise pleasurable viewing.
Disappointing 
2002-03-06 - I love the series, and only caught up to this British film after seeing all the available TV shows on video. The casting was fine, though the series actors are much better. My problem with this film are these: It is almost word for word from the first two episodes of the Series. Also...I don't think it was such a hot idea to make a film, as it only added up to a few stories told episodically. There was no single story line to sustain a film. It ends with James and Helen getting married and James seeing his nameplate on the door.
Hopkins was a very capable Farnon, though, Hardy is better. And Simon Ward was adequate. I love the books and Series, but I may sell this video at auction.
