All Creatures Great and Small - The Memorable TV DVD Review

Without doubt All Creatures is one of the best loved of all TV series, heartwarming, nostalgic and leaves you yearning for better times,. The series was based on a highly popular series of books by real life vet James Herriot these gentle and homely tales of veterinary life between the 1930's and 1950's were set in Darrowby, Yorkshire.

The series began in the 1930's when newly qualified vet James Herriott took up a position working for Seigfried Farnon, a somewhat arrogant middle aged vet and his younger impetuous brother Tristan (who at the start of the show was yet to be qualified as a vet). Midway through season one James had fallen for and then married Helen, (Carol Drinkwater who played Helen and Christopher Timothy who played James became real life partners).
Series three is quite a pivotal one, on the surface nothing too much has changed, Helen and James are now parents and the practice is still dealing with truculant farmers and the demanding Mrs Pumphrey but its now the late 1930's and war is looming on the horizon, theres a real sense of melancholy in the air as James and Tristan prepare to go off and fight the good fight.

All of this sense of closure was of course leading up to the series conclusion, the BBC had adapted all of James Herriots existing stories at that time and planned to have the series go out on a high.
Of course public demand meant that after a couple of feature length specials the series would return in the late 80's.

Not to put too fine a point on it, All Creatures Great and Small is just lovely, this four disc set from Roadshow contains all 13 episodes from the third season and is more than worth spending some quality time with.

FINAL VERDICT

Perfect Sunday afternoon in front of the TV.

ANY SPECIAL FEATURES?

Audio Commentary by Cast and Crew; A look at the world of James Herriot and Who's Who in the Cast.