All Creatures Great and Small

[Vicar]

http://www.britainexpress.com/tours/images/HarriotYorkshire-sss.jpg

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075472

[Vicar]

http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/allcreatures1.jpg

http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/acgas.htm

[Vicar]

Has anybody seen this show?

[Pamela]

Yes, I've seen many episodes of it.

Any particular questions? If you're on the UK (which most of you aren't lol)
it's currently showing on UK Drama.

My fave actor in it is Peter Davison, but that's probably because I'm a Doctor Who fan :o

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Years ago (and I mean years ago) our PBS station used to play this. I watched it but don't remember bollocks about it.

[Vicar]

Yes, I've seen many episodes of it.

Any particular questions? If you're on the UK (which most of you aren't lol)
it's currently showing on UK Drama.

My fave actor in it is Peter Davison, but that's probably because I'm a Doctor Who fan :o


Thanks Pamela. No particular questions. I'm pretty sure I have seen it, like Greg long ago. Of course, I could have just read one of the books and gotten my images from that...or I could have done both. Been too long I guess. At this age, things all begin to merge. :roll:

I am glad to hear that it is still playing in the UK. I'm just at the mercy of whatever packages the local PBS station decides to take.
Things are changing politically ~ mostly behind the scenes ~ at PBS these days, so who knows how long our good ole shows will last there.

We may just have to move to the UK! :shake:

[Vicar]

Years ago (and I mean years ago) our PBS station used to play this. I watched it but don't remember bollocks about it.



ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

Take the legendary British affection for their animals, combine it with the comically gentle experiences of a best selling and beloved author, and then fashion the ingredients into a phenomenally successful television series using the consummate expertise of the BBC drama department. The result would be All Creatures Great and Small.

James Herriot's tales of a country vet had first appeared on screen in a 1974 movie starring Simon Ward, followed by a sequel, It Shouldn't Happen To A Vet, starring John Alderton in 1976.

For the TV series the personable and talented Christopher Timothy was cast as Herriot, a novice vet who joins the practice of Siegfried Farnon and his easygoing brother Tristan (Peter Davison, later to cement his television immortality as the fifth incarnation of Doctor Who). Set in the fictional Yorkshire Dales town of Darrowby, initially in the 1930's, the immediate popularity of the programme was due in part to it's reflection of a much gentler time when life moved at a somewhat slower pace, following faithfully Herriot's written tales of all manner of agricultural and domestic animal ailments.

The shows run came to an end in 1980 after three series, with Herriot and Tristan Farnon heading off to World War 2. Two Christmas specials followed in 1983 and 1985, but absence, as they say, makes the heart grow fonder, and concerted public pressure succeeded in bringing about a return for the series in 1988.

Acknowledging the passage of time, events in Darrowby had moved on to the post-war period. Siegfried, (the hugely experienced and powerful performer, Robert Hardy) was married and a new vet,
Glaswegian, Calum Buchanan joined the practise to compensate for the almost complete departure of the Tristram character, since Peter Davison's appearances were down to a minimum due to other work commitments.

Other core cast changes saw Carol Drinkwater's Helen Herriot replaced by Lynda Bellingham. By this point all of Herriot's original stories had been adapted, although some unpublished memoirs were used for plots and writers were given the freedom to invent new situations. The series finished with another highly rated Christmas special in 1990.

The show spawned a lucrative James Herriot industry around Thirsk where the series was filmed, with it's warm and engagingly eccentric characters which became the standard template for a flood of nostalgia tinged, gentle country set dramas and comedies which continue to this day. Indeed, this part of the country in particular has been the setting for many successful series on British TV, including Last Of The Summer Wine, Open All Hours, and the not dissimilar Heartbeat.

First rate performances and production values helped ensure that the series All Creatures Great and Small is yet another shining example of British television production at its finest.

88 Episodes of 50 minute duration and 3 of 90 minutes BBC 1978-90.

CAST James Herriot
Christopher Timothy
Siegfried Farnon
Robert Hardy
Tristan Farnon
Peter Davison
Helen Alderson/Herriot
Carol Drinkwater
Lynda Bellingham
Calum Buchanan
John McGlynn
PRODUCTION
Created By
James Herriot
Producer
Bill Sellars
Directors Included
Terence Dudley
Christopher Barry
Peter Moffat
Writers Included
James Herriot
Johnny Byrne

For photos see the link as shown in the above posts or just click here:
http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Wow, thanks for the info Vicar !!! :mrgreen:

[Lucas The Tucas]

NO!

Not in this neck of the woods...

But, it looks interesting... :D

Lucas

[sonosun]

Wow, thanks for the info Vicar !!! :mrgreen:

Thanks Vicar for posting that. I remember watching some of the episodes,but not all. I did enjoy it though. Oh by the way I see you have your fine key. I'll have to get cracking on that lock. :D

[Vicar]

Wow, thanks for the info Vicar !!! :mrgreen:

Thanks Vicar for posting that. I remember watching some of the episodes,but not all. I did enjoy it though. Oh by the way I see you have your fine key. I'll have to get cracking on that lock. :D


You're welcome. With all these animal lovers, this seems like it would be a favorite around here. I may have to look for some tapes, now that I remember it, I kinda miss it.

:shake: HeeHee...I went shopping. BTW Many thanks for "watching the door" but it will be nice to have a lock. :lol:

[Vicar]

Wow, thanks for the info Vicar !!! :mrgreen:


All us animal lovers, and those that enjoy the scenery in Last of The Summer Wine would enjoy this show I would think.

You're welcome, Greg. I'd like to see it again. Like you, it's been a long time. I'm not sure if it was on PBS or Cable back then.

[Vicar]

NO!
Not in this neck of the woods...
But, it looks interesting... :D
Lucas

Sadly, it's not being shown around here either. I'm not even sure how long ago it's been or if it was even on PBS when I did get to see it.

pbs must have just changed our "menu".... on the first. I just got to watch "Mulberry" again tonight!!!

:lol:

[Pamela]

Wow, thanks for the info Vicar !!! :mrgreen:


All us animal lovers, and those that enjoy the scenery in Last of The Summer Wine would enjoy this show I would think.


Yes, I think that sums it up nicely. It's pretty gentle on all the senses.

http://tv.cream.org/specialassignments/themes/1.htm the theme tune is here, at TV Cream, that may jog a few memories :D

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Totally kewl site Pamela !!!! I got TV themes from TONS of shows !!!!
Thanks again !!!!http://lordgreg.minki.net/thumbup.gif

[Lucas The Tucas]

A Great Site !

Thanks PAM...

Lucas :D

[Pamela]

cheers Greggy, Lucas-it's a great one, isn't it? and it's very funny too!

[Vicar]

Wow, thanks for the info Vicar !!! :mrgreen:


All us animal lovers, and those that enjoy the scenery in Last of The Summer Wine would enjoy this show I would think.


Yes, I think that sums it up nicely. It's pretty gentle on all the senses.

http://tv.cream.org/specialassignments/themes/1.htm the theme tune is here, at TV Cream, that may jog a few memories :D


Pamela,
Thanks for posting that link! What an interesting place....lots of old memories hanging around in there! :dance01:

[Pamela]

smashing Vicar! I'm so pleased to see people enjoy one of my favourite sites :D

[DuranFan]

My PBS station (WNED) has been airing this show for the past two seasons ... I tried watching it once, about a couple of months ago, and was really disappointed. First of all, they passed it off as a Britcom -- I would call this show more of a drama than anything else. There's no comedy in it whatsoever. I don't know, I didn't really like it. Right now, I'm kinda wishing they would take it off the air and broadcast a REAL Britcom in its place.

[Vicar]

My PBS station (WNED) has been airing this show for the past two seasons ... I tried watching it once, about a couple of months ago, and was really disappointed. First of all, they passed it off as a Britcom -- I would call this show more of a drama than anything else. There's no comedy in it whatsoever. I don't know, I didn't really like it. Right now, I'm kinda wishing they would take it off the air and broadcast a REAL Britcom in its place.


For heaven's sake. You are right, it IS listed by the BBC as a drama ~ at least from what I've seen. It's not hilarious thats for sure, tho, seems there were some smiles here and there.

I'll trade you my "Allo, Allo" for your "All Creatures..." :P

[DuranFan]

I'll trade you my "Allo, Allo" for your "All Creatures..."

:eek: How can you not like 'Allo, 'Allo?? I'm aghast! I don't know what to say!!

You're still the greatest Vicar! :D *hug*

[Vicar]

I'll trade you my "Allo, Allo" for your "All Creatures..."

:eek: How can you not like 'Allo, 'Allo?? I'm aghast! I don't know what to say!!

You're still the greatest Vicar! :D *hug*

Awww....thanks, DuranFan. :cheeky: That's so sweet.

OK OK for the hug and all, I'll up my offer: "Allo, Allo" AND "Hero" for your "All Creatures..."

(I'm sure at another, earlier, time I would have thought it was funny. I've been too intensely involved politically these last 5 years to see it that way now.)

[Maurice Moulterd]

I enjoy this series very much. Over the past several years I have been able to purchase (on ebay) the unabridged versions of all 4 (main) books plus others first on cassette tape and now on CD. We listen to these to help kill time, much to the chagrin of our children, on our long distance vacations. Be sure to seek out the unabridged versions. These are read by Timothy Christopher. I also have a couple as read by JH himself.

I also have seasons 1 - 4 plus the holiday episodes on DVD. Later series are available on VHS, but I hope eventually to secure the whole collection on DVD.

The audio versions (CD/cassette) are very faithful to the books. The DVDs are enjoyable in their own right, but often combine and condense several stories to make one episode.

I am very much a fan of James Herriot. For me, every one of these collections is a treasure.

I do often wonder, thought, how different some of these stories would be if told by Siegfried or Tristan!

There are several excellent websites dedicated to James Herriot. I would recommend anyone interested in his works to do a seach using google. I have learned a great deal from these sites. :D

[Tiddles]

Has anybody seen this show?


Oh yes! Read all the books, too. You can lose yourself in Herriot's books. They are hilarious as well as touching. The whole series is one I am so grateful I stumbled on years ago at a used book shop. After that I collected all his books. I love "James Herriot's Yorkshire." http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/3907/herriot2.html

[Vicar]

Maurice,

I just know you have thoroughly enjoyed your wonderful collection!

I've recently contacted our local PBS station and asked to be notified when they will be showing "All Creatures..." I'm even more anxious than ever after reading your post. :)

[Vicar]

Has anybody seen this show?


Oh yes! Read all the books, too. You can lose yourself in Herriot's books. They are hilarious as well as touching. The whole series is one I am so grateful I stumbled on years ago at a used book shop. After that I collected all his books. I love "James Herriot's Yorkshire." http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/3907/herriot2.html

Tiddles,

Thanks so much for the link!!
OK Now I've GOT to check out my upstairs bookshelves. When I get my new glasses I want to see if I do indeed have one of his books that I read years ago .... and if I do, by golly, read it again. :shake:

Not that it will do any good at all, but it possibly won't hurt, I have "suggested" to our local PBS station that this is a much more enjoyable show than some they have just begun to air this month.
:lol:

[Pamela]

http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/

another great site for clips etc from British TV-including old adverts with some familiar faces :D

[Pamela]

d'oh! meant to add that Mike Berry's Blue Riband advert can be seen in the A-C section of Adverts!

peruse away folks!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

d'oh! meant to add that Mike Berry's Blue Riband advert can be seen in the A-C section of Adverts!

peruse away folks!

He's singing for God sakes !!!! :eek:

[Leiko Spade]

I love this show. I'd forgotten about it until seeing this, but now i remember i love it.
Our local library has several vhs tapes, each with about two or three episodes. That's the only way i ever get to watch it.

I've read a few of the books it's based on. Very good books, too, which surprised me as the subjectmatter isn't what I normally like to read.

[Miss Whimsey]

I first read the books when I was in middle school. I loved them, and animals, so much, I wanted passionately to become a vet. Not being overly gifted in mathematics, however, meant that my admiration for Herriot's storytelling abilities was a better indicator of my eventual life's work. I'm not always a fan of presentations adapted from works I've read first, but these are wonderful.


Miss Whimsey

[Maurice Moulterd]

Season 5 is now avail on DVD in the USA. :D

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Once again, this is a collection I have on DVD yet never watched them yet.