All Creatures Great and Small (1975) (TV)

Director:

Claude Whatham

Writers:

Hugh Whitemore (screenplay)
James Herriot (book)
(more)

Release Date:

29 March 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

The story of a young veterinarian's apprenticeship to a somewhat eccentric older vet in the English countryside, and the young man's hesitating courtship of the daughter of a local farmer. |

Plot Keywords:

Veterinarian | Performer | Defiance | Alcoholism | Love

Cast

Brenda Bruce	...	Miss Harbottle
Christine Buckley	...	Mrs. Hall
John Collin	...	Mr. Alderson
Jane Collins	...	Connie
Fred Feast	...	Farmer in Cinema
Glynne Geldart	...	Joyce
Harold Goodwin	...	Dinsdale's Uncle
Lisa Harrow	...	Helen
Anthony Hopkins	...	Siegfried
Freddie Jones	...	Cranford
Doreen Mantle	...	Mrs. Seaton
T.P. McKenna	...	Soames
John Nettleton	...	Head Waiter
Daphne Oxenford	...	Mrs. Pumphrey
Bert Palmer	...	Mr. Dean (as Burt Palmer)
John Rees	...	Geoff Mallock
Jenny Runacre	...	Pamela
Jane Solo	...	Brenda
Brian Stirner	...	Tristan
Simon Ward	...	James Herriot

Directed by
Claude Whatham

Writing credits
Hugh Whitemore		(screenplay)
James Herriot		(book)
Hugh Whitemore		adaptation (uncredited)

Produced by
Duane Bogie	....	producer
Cecil F. Ford	....	associate producer
David Susskind	....	producer

Original Music by
Wilfred Josephs

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ralph Sheldon

Casting by
Rose Tobias Shaw

Production Design by
Geoffrey Drake

Costume Design by
Yvonne Blake

Makeup Department
Alan Brownie	....	makeup artist
Ronnie Cogan	....	hairdresser

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Dryhurst	....	assistant director
Michael Murray	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Fred Carter	....	set dresser
David Minty	....	draughtsman

Sound Department
Ken Barker	....	sound recordist
Tony Jackson	....	sound recordist (as Anthony Jackson)
John Poyner	....	sound editor
Clive Smith	....	sound editor
Graham V. Hartstone	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Stanier	....	camera operator
Ron Mcworth	....	best boy (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Briggs	....	wardrobe master
Dorothy Edwards	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Larry Richardson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Marcus Dods	....	conductor

Other crew
Nat Cohen	....	presenter: for
Ronald H. Gilbert	....	production executive (as Ronald Gilbert)
Judy Humphreys	....	production secretary
Terry Needham	....	location manager
Arthur Tarry	....	production accountant
Cathy Lonergan	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• EMI Film Distributors (as Nat Cohen presents for EMI Film Distributors Ltd.)
• Venedon Ltd. (as A Venedon Limited Production)
• Talent Associates (uncredited)

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions (1975) (USA) (TV)
• EMI Film Distributors (1978) (UK) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment (2001) (UK) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1975) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)

Also Known As:

"Hallmark Hall of Fame: All Creatures Great and Small (#24.3)" - USA (anthology series)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) (passed with cuts) | UK:PG (video rating) (2001) (2012) | UK:PG (online) (2012) | Australia:PG | UK:PG (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Pickering Parish Hall, Hall Garth, Pickering, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

EMI Film Distributors

Trivia:

Although born in Sunderland, Herriot spent the first twenty-three years of his life in Glasgow, and never lost the accent, as can be heard in television interviews. Simon Ward however, plays him as a Londoner.

Goofs:

Continuity: When James and Helen are eating ice cream in Whitby, ice cream is clearly visible on James's top lip. After he has turned round all traces of ice cream have vanished.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[James Herriot rings the doorbell]
Mrs. Hall:[opening door] Yes?
James Herriot:[removing his hat] Good afternoon, my name's Herriot.
[pause]
James Herriot:...Well, I belive Mr. Farnon is expecting me.
Mrs. Hall:Surgery is from six to seven.
James Herriot:Oh no, no, he asked me for tea.
Mrs. Hall:Did he now?
James Herriot:Well, I'm applying for the job, you see. Mr. Farnon's new assistant.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: The Last Temptation of Krust (#9.15)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Music

A Great 70s Classic.

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.