I love All Creatures Great and Small so when PBS came out with a new series, I was curious how they could improve on the older one other than in video quality. They didn’t. That’s not to say the new version isn’t entertaining. It is. It isn’t AS entertaining. It is eclipsed by the realism, humor and acting of the 1978 version.
“So what’s wrong with it you curmudgeonly baby boomer?”
Actually, sweet cheeks, nothing’s wrong with it except for the anachronisms that most people won’t notice anyway, like Jim Herriot jogging to keep in shape (1935?), Siegfried wearing boots with Vibram soles, etc. But there is one really lovely improvement — Diana Rigg (RIP) as Mrs. Pumphrey. She’s beautiful, brilliant, wonderful. The thing is, the new version is absurdly sanitized, soap-operized and seriousized.
“Seriousized?”
Yep. There is a lighter feel to the version from the late 1970s…
“More disco dancing?”
No. In the earlier version Jim Herriot actually sticks his arm up the cow’s butt for an exam and pulls it out, all covered with cow shit. If you’ve read the books, you know how much of the job that actually WAS for the REAL Dr. Herriot. In the new version, all we see is Jim’s toned torso behind a cow.
“I’d rather see a toned torso than a cow’s butt etc.”
Everyone is a lot more serious and Siegfried Farnon has no sense of humor. In the older version there’s a great relationship between Herriot and Farnon with lots of natural, playful repartee. In the new version Siegfried is just kind of an asshole. Mrs. Hall in the earlier version is a dour older woman who plays her part masterfully — but definitely in the background. In the new version she’s much younger, has a reprobate son, and a major part. In the older version, Herriot’s wife, Helen, isn’t a village heart-throb, and while their romance and marriage is a big part of the story, it’s not a central theme. Herriot’s books are about being a country vet in the wilds of Yorkshire; they’re not about his family except in a very tangential way. In the new version, the Herriot/Helen romance has a central position. The villagers in the earlier version are a lot friendlier, too, and funnier. Simply stated, there’s just a lot more convincing ACTING and story-telling. There’s a scene in both where Herriot leaves a gate open. Anyone who’s ever hung around farming, ranching, cows KNOWS you close the gate. In BOTH shows there is that scene, but only in the older one do the cows get out. That pretty much sums up the difference between the two. Oh, except for that the older version has a LOT more dogs living at Siegfried’s house. 🙂
“So should I watch it or not?”
Yeah, it’s good. If you haven’t seen the earlier version, you won’t even know. But, best of all, read the books.
Someone “corrected” me about Vibram. Here’s the thing. I make mistakes (that isn’t one) and I actually LIKE being corrected, but I don’t think a correction needs to be rude. Correcting someone doesn’t mean trolling them.
Vibram soled shoes were not on the market during the 1930s. They were not patented until 1937. You would certainly not see “waffle-stompers with the bright, yellow Vibram logo like those Siegfried is wearing in the new version of ACG&S. As it happens, I researched this history of Vibram for another post. If you’re interested (and it is VERY interesting) here’s the story. https://us.vibram.com/company/about/history/
“Herriot” became a vet in 1939. Vibram was patented in 1937. It was available on the general market many years later. Would Siegfried have had Vibram soled workshoes in 1939? Only if he had been a mountaineer working with Vitale Bramani.
https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2021/01/28/the-ragtag-daily-prompt-thursday-penumbra/
Books certainly worth reading.
LOVED the book. Ironic you should mention this series, because I saw a fleeting glimpse of it after we watched a Nature series on PBS last night. Doesn’t sound like I would enjoy this updated version.
It’s OK. I think if I hadn’t experienced the earlier one I’d be totally satisfied.
I love his books and have shared them with my grandchildren who love them as well, particularly “Only One Woof” which delighted all generations.
I love them, too. ❤
I have read the books and Herriot DEFINITELY stuck his 🙌 up the cow’s ass!🙏♒️🐕❤️✔️
I started reading the Herriot books before the original series aired and loved both them and the series. I wish they would show it again. Yes real things happened in the original! Like James getting bitten (really), in the surgery. I remember Christopher Timothy, who plays James, being involved in a car accident and it being touch and go if he could still play the role. I’m not sure what the author (can’t remember his name) would make of the new series, but there are enough soap operas on TV so I’m giving it a miss. By the way have you seen the Supervet with Noel Fitzpatrick? He does life saving surgery on animals including dogs xxx
James Herriot was the author. 🙂 Yeah, I don’t think I’ll watch future seasons of the new version.
James Herriot was his pseudonym. I think he was called Peter something… He didn’t want his customers knowing he was writing about them? He was Scottish…
Not Peter! James Alfred Wright. I must have been thinking of Peter Davidson who played Tristram Farnon ?
I didn’t know it was a pseudonym! I just looks it up. :O I loved the Tristan character in the old version. I didn’t write much about it in this review because the character of Tristan in the new version is excellent, too, but different — reflecting different times, clearly.
Peter Davidson also played Dr Who….
That was my first thought…didn’t realize he was in the original All Creatures great and small
Yes! Both BBC programmes. Not sure but all creatures might have been first?
I was always thinking I’d be a veterinarian – it started with the Dr. Doolittle books and then I discovered James Herriot in HS. Couldn’t get enough! I think I read them all at least 4 times. I saw the PBS version while in college – all the vet and vet tech students were watching, sometimes together. Good times. I agree with your assessment of the new one. Good but not better.
I remember watching the original series and thinking that maybe someday I’d have a house full of dogs like Siegfried had. And guess what. 😀
Not sure I’m ready to check it out, even with Diana Rigg. I loved the original series SO much!!
It’s entertaining and the Tristan character is great. I just wish they had changed it MORE and changed the title…
A great series and book. I enjoy watching The Yorkshire Vet on TV now it follows the footsteps of another vet who trained under James Herriot and is so lovely.
Thanks! I’ve added the Yorkshire Vet to my list. 🙂
I hope you like it.
I look forward to it!
I read that book years ago and I was not that interested in the story. I did watch some of the old series and felt the same way. I’ve watched a couple of current version. The farmers seem to be a parody of themselves somehow. Siegfried is an asshat and I am waiting for him to change. Wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills first.
Maybe this isn’t your thing. 😀
I think the jury is still out. I do watch the new PBS show. Last evening I added it to my record list in case I was not home to watch it. Always searching for new interests – reading is a large part of my life. I recently rediscovered Ken Follet and his historic tomes.
The old ones are the best !
Definitely. 🙂 The new ones are entertaining, but differently.
Still… Diana Rigg. As an adolescent she was my first real crush. Along with Doris Day.
My brother’s first crush, too. She is splendid in All Creatures Great and Small. Makes the whole thing worth watching.
I was with you on Diana Rigg, but…Doris Day?! Oh, well. I forgive you. 😉
Ha ha ha ha! I had a crush on Peter O’Toole.
Those eyes! Of course!
Yes. ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
I even fall for blue-eyed dogs…
We have been watching, but it is rather mundane in its presentation. Still, in comparison to other things being broadcast, it is still enjoyable.
Definitely — and compared to a lot of stuff out there, it’s refreshing.
Refreshing is a good word, Martha.
I’ll stick with the older version then Martha 🙂 Thanks for joining in
My pleasure. You should watch it just see Diana Rigg ❤
That does make it a bit more appealing. The gate bit made me smile
My son recently cleaned out his book shelf. He kept his James Herriot books. That is saying something. I haven’t read them. I must do that.
They are really fun, touching and funny.
I loved those books too and I enjoyed the early series. I did not know a remake had been produced but probably would have avoided it on principle as I find remakes nearly always disappoint me. The original series and the books did have a lot of humour. Siegfried was eccentric, Tristan was hilarious and the Mrs Pumphrey stories were some of my favourites. I did see Diana Rigg in “Detectorists” where she worked with her daughter, Rachel Stirling.
Comparisons are awful, really, but it was impossible for me NOT to make one. The new series is good, but different in ways that just don’t work for me. But I think it will introduce more people to those wonderful books.
I’m enjoying the series and didn’t see enough of the earlier version to compare. You have made me very curious about the books!