Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

The popular British television show All Creatures Great and Small actually had two distinct eras. Based on the adventures of a country veterinarian in Yorkshire, England during the 1930’s and 1940’s, the first run of the show encompassed the first three seasons of the show and brought the characters up to the start of the Second World War. Eight years later, the show was revived with a bit of a change in the characters, but overall it picked up pretty much the same way it had left off. It was still the story of a team of veterinarians in rural England and many of the faces remained the same with a few additions.

In between, there were two specials, one in 1983 and one from 1985 that were in between what most fans of the series refer to as the "first series" and the "second series". The main difference, besides just the passage of time, was the actress who portrayed James; wife, Helen. Carol Drinkwater, who portrayed her in the first three seasons and here in the specials is for many the actress loved best in the role.

When last we saw our characters at the end of Season Three, veterinarians James Herriot and Siegfried Farnon (portrayed by Christopher Timothy and Robert Hardy) were headed off to fight the Germans in World War II. Tristan Farnon (portrayed by Peter Davison) had just passed his veterinary exams, finally! He'd taken them numerous times without success. James; wife, Helen, was holding down things on the homefront while housekeeper Mrs. Hall was departing for her own life as she re-married.

The 1983 special deals with the aftermath of the war. James is returning home, greeting all of his friends and clients in the Yorkshire Dales. He is returning home to a very different world, and his son, Jimmy, who is already growing. James is right back in form, almost immediately playing a practical joke on Tristan.

However, there seems to be something different about James. He's sharper than his friends remember him. Even Helen notices it in his interaction with Jimmy. Siegfried takes him fishing and talks about it in a gentle way that he has always been known for.

As all of this is going on, a new housekeeper is hired, but Mrs. Hubbard is no Mrs. Hall. Helen discovers she is pregnant again and James fusses over her. As usual, Tristan fawns over various women around the village. Mrs. Pomphrey brings in a female dog for Trickie Woo. James arrives to deliver the puppies and discoveries that Trickie Woo isn't the father, her handy-man's dog is.

At the end, Siegfreid becomes engaged to a woman named Caroline and Tristan heads off to a job with the Ministry of Agriculture. It almost has the feeling of putting a period in place for the characters we’d grown to love over the first three seasons.

The 1985 special opens with James wading through muck to rescue a stuck dog. Tristan is back in town sniffing around a former flame. However, her father is a member of the local Temperance League, and thinks Tristan would be just the one to inspire a younger generation in that direction.

James and Helen now have a daughter, Rosie, in addition to their son, Jimmy. This is the episode where James finally develops an attachment to an animal of his own, as the family takes in a dog named Amber. Helen isn't too happy, since the dog's health prospects are grim, and she's afraid of the effect it will have on the children if she dies.

This special had much more of the feel of an episode of the series, where the earlier one really felt like a stand-alone special.

Even with all of this going on, these specials have the same flavor and innocence that the series did. It’s something parents can watch with their children and not be afraid of what’s around the corner. Topics such as the effects of the war are dealt with in a way that is sensitive without being obvious. Tristan’s womanizing is a bit of comic relief rather than being overtly sexual.

The DVD release is good. The picture hasn’t been remastered to the extent that it loses the charm of the softer picture. However, there’s no snow, interference, or jumps in the picture. The sound is good as well, although I felt the music wasn’t up to the caliber of the series. There are a couple of extras on the DVD which are interesting to watch, especially seeing the countryside where the show has been filmed.

Fans of the series and those watching it for the first time will want to watch these specials in between the third and fourth season releases on DVD. It really bridges the two incarnations of the show together. It’s also a last chance for fans to see Carol Drinkwater in the role of Helen, and whether you have a bias or not her performance here is one to cherish. I wouldn’t recommend the DVD to anyone who wasn’t already involved in the series, but it’s definite a must-see for those who are.


Special Features:

• Harty On Location - a behind the scenes look at the filming of the 1985 special.
• Who's Who


My All Creatures Great and Small series reviews:

Series One ~ Series Two ~ Series Three ~ The Specials ~ Series Four ~ Series Five ~ Series Six


© 2008 Patti Aliventi

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD