All Creatures Great and Small (film)

In 1937, newly qualified vet James Herriot travels to Yorkshire for the post of assistant in Siegfried Farnon's practice. He learns the facts of country life, but has to overcome the prejudices of the Darrowby locals who are sceptical of the novice vet's ability. In between cases, Herriot courts farmer's daughter Helen Alderson. ==Main cast==

Development All Creatures Great and Small was a best seller in the US - selling over 3 million copies in the Reader's Digest version - and film rights were optioned. The film was made for NBC's Hallmark Hall of Fame but it was theatrically released outside the US. The producers were Duane Bogie for FCB Productions and David Susskind for the Talent Associates. According to one account, the budget was $1.2 million, nearly twice what NBC paid for it. Another account said the budget was $1 million, with $650,000 from NBC, $250,000 from EMI (who distributed), and $100,000 privately raised. Shooting Filming started in May 1974, in the town of Malton, North Riding of Yorkshire. Studio work was done in London. Ward said "The roughest thing was putting a hand up a pregnant mare... for the film I had to do it again and again." Wight avoided this by reportedly paying Sinclair a percentage of money from the books. ==Release==

Having passed the British censors in September 1974, the film was not released until 9 May 1975, when it opened in London at the small cinema Studio Two in Oxford Street. == Reception ==

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This everyday story of country folk has no ambition beyond an almost obsessive ordinariness, conveyed not through understatement but through clichés. These dominate the life of simple vet James Herriot, whose daily rounds consist entirely of jolly japes and noble sacrifices, and govern director Claude Whatham's evocation of 1937, which is suffocated by a period charm which becomes less charming by the minute: a pre-war packet of Force is placed prominently on the breakfast table, a 'Stop me and buy one' man is placed prominently in the foreground, and so forth. Peter Suschitzky's pretty photography is noteworthy; so too is the performance of Anthony Hopkins, whose bluff, irascible veterinarian shines like a beacon amidst otherwise dull or stock characterisation. Overall, however, the film could not be recommended to anyone other than fans of The Archers and children who derive pleasure from watching people doing unpleasant things to sick animals." The Times film critic David Robinson wrote "All Creatures Great and Small is so wholesome and warmhearted it makes you want to scream. Not on account of these qualities in themselves, but because of the director's (Claude Whatham) inability to give them any more depth or meaning than a television series", but acknowledged that Anthony Hopkins' and Simon Ward's playing made their characters somewhat believable. Filmink called the movie "charming" but felt its memory had been overshadowed by the later TV series. ==Home media==

The film has been released on DVD for both Region 2 PAL and Region 1 NTSC. ==Sequel==

A second film, ''It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet'' was released in 1976. John Alderton took over the role of James and Colin Blakely that of Siegfried, while Lisa Harrow returned as Helen. The film was directed by Eric Till from a script by Alan Plater. Starting in 1978, there was a TV series based on the book, which was a huge ratings success in Britain and ran until 1990. ==References==