ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL: YOU’VE GOT TO DREAM (2020, UK) ***½
Drama
net. Channel 5 UK; pr co. Playground Entertainment; d. Brian Percival; w. Ben Vanstone (based on the books by James Herriot); exec pr. Colin Callender, Melissa Gallant, Ben Vanstone, Louise Pedersen, Rebecca Eaton, Susanne Simpson, Caroline Cooper Charles, Hugo Heppell; pr. Richard Burrell; ph. Erik Molberg Hansen (Colour. 1.78:1); m. Alexandra Harwood; ed. John Wilson; pd. Jacqueline Smith; ad. Thomas Goodwin; set d. Kaye Kent; cos. Ros Little; m/up. Jackie Sweeney; sd. Jonathan Wyatt (Dolby Digital); sfx. Scott MacIntyre; vfx. Sam Biddle, Catriona Falla; tr. 1 September 2020; r/t. 50m.
cast: Nicholas Ralph (James Herriot), Samuel West (Siegfried Farnon), Rachel Shenton (Helen Alderson), Anna Madeley (Mrs. Hall), Drew Cain (James Herriot Senior), Gabriel Quigley (Hannah Herriot), Mark Noble (Henry Dinsdale), Imogen Clawson (Jenny Alderson), Alexis Platt (Dick Rudd), Steve Jackson (Jeremy Sharpe), Nigel Betts (Dennis Handshaw), Naomi Radcliffe (Mrs. Dinsdale), Laura Lindsay (Mrs. Rudd).
(s. 1 ep. 1) The numerous adventures of friendly staff at a country veterinarian practice in 1930s to 1940s Yorkshire. It is a remake of the 1978-1990 series and the 1974 feature film taken from the autobiographical books by James Herriot. In this debut episode, James (Ralph) travels from his home in Glasgow to start a career as an assistant vet with the eccentric Siegfried Farnon (West doing well following in the footsteps of Robert Hardy). Vanstone adapts the source material well drawing on the charm and humour of the books to create a feeling akin to that of the original classic series. This new version is aimed at creating a new generation of animal lovers and judging by this first episode it has successfully captured the essence that made the original series so enjoyable, whilst creating its own identity.