All Creatures Great and Small (1975) (TV)

Director:

Claude Whatham

Writers:

Hugh Whitemore (screenplay)
James Herriot (book)

Release Date:

4 February 1975 (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 | Rural | Britain | Yorkshire England | Slice Of Life

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

Directed by
Claude Whatham

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

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	....	hairdressing

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
Ronald Gilbert	....	production executive
Judy Humphreys	....	production secretary
Terry Needham	....	location manager
Artur Tarry	....	production accountant (as Arthur Tarry)
Cathy Lonergan	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• EMI Films
• 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)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)

Also Known As:

All Things Great and Small

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Empire Cinema, Station Square, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

EMI Films

Trivia:

Known to the cast and crew as "All Creatures Grunt and Smell"

Quotes:

[first lines]
James Herriot: [rings 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:

Followed by It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (1975)

Lovely

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.