James Herriot's Yorkshire [DVD]

GreatGreat

I am biased here, as i have read and re-read the James herriot books since they were published. I have replaced my paperback versions with hardbacks and collected every single item Alf Wight (his real name) published. I have the box set of DVDs of the BBC Tv series. I relocated from Lancashire to Cornwall 13 years ago and before I did I regularly drove round the Yorkshire dales since before I had even heard of James herriot, and well before they dubbed it Herriot Country. I visited Askrigg, Muker and Hawes, where they filmed. The only thing I need to do before I die is visit the genuine house featured in this DVD as a museum - according to the website it is still open - and i would love to meet his daughter who apparently takes visitors round. WHY? Simple. The books are a national treasure, preserving a people and a way of life gone for ever. Reading them with a small smile on your lips, you are transported back in time. This DVD pays tribute to the man himself, and presents his life and success story (so hard won compared to the shallow fame people seek for its own sake these days)in a way that is satisfyingly honest and simple. The scenery is as stunning as ever. If like me you were born in the early 50s it is irresistible unless you don't read. In which case you are a lost cause anyway and the DVD will mean nothing to you.

I was disappointed - and it's my own fault for not reading the product description more carefully - by the quality of the film. Shot on 16mm twenty years ago this simply can't stand up against modern high definition photography. I'm very familiar with the locations and the area in general. This film simply doesn't capture, or do justice to, the light, the atmosphere, and the colours of the dales countryside - something Alf Wight referred to continuously in his writing. That may in part be the fault of the film/DVD transfer conversion. As another reviewer has said I also think it's disingenuous to use a posed shot for the CD cover which will lead most people to conclude that there will be a conversational input from Alf Wight, when there isn't. I understand and acknowlege he was very seriously unwell but I felt I'd been mislead, and thus disappointed.This really needs doing again, on modern equipment and with a photographer (Hugh Miles springs to mind) who has the proven ability to capture the atmosphere of this wonderful area. It may have been the best tribute they could do at the time and on the budget they had. However, in my view the book, the area and most especially Alf Wight's memory are less than perfectly served today by the quality of this aged production. Buy it, by all means, but I think anyone who, today, gives it four or five stars is being very kind or forgiving, and perhaps I'm neither? I'm sure there will be those who think so, but three stars is a generous stretch for me.

This is an excelent DVD with some superb photography. Shot predominantly in and around the Swaledale & Wensleydale area's with journey's to Harrogate, York & the coast. Not just a sunshine DVD either , there are sequences filmed in the rain or when the visibility isn't too good which I think helps to show the landscapes true character, it's not just about the chocolate box shots. One might think that with a 'name' presenting the DVD it might be full of inane prattling but Christopher Timothy makes a wise decision in keeping the commentry to a bare minimun and let's the landscape do the talking. Occasional, but short, readings from the books are given where they have significant reference. I've never read the books or seen more than half a dozen of the TV shows but I hike the area from time to time and this is a splendid record of it. If I had one slight grumble it would be that in the York section too much time is spent on the Minster, but I am nit-picking.

When I bought this DVD I wasn't aware of the fact that the recordings were from the early ninetees. After watching high-tech recordings as planet earth, coast and how we built britain I had to addapt to be honest. But the images they made are still good, nicely made, good atmosphere about this film. They take you along Yorkshire, from the dales to the moors, to the coast, to some towns and villages. Yes, you get nice views from Yorkshire, from places where Herriot lived and worked: nothing wrong with it, I enjoyed it.

A lovely recording, all the more charming for its reminder of Yorkshire in the early 90s, when it was filmed, and Christopher Timothy's affectionately reverential, engaging tribute to James Herriot. The music score is lovely too, and there are lots of 'quieter' moments too which allow you to simply drink in the scenery. I enjoyed learning new facts about James's life in the county I live in and love. A nostalgic, warm and very relaxing film.

I really enjoyed watching it. I have read all the James Herriot books and watched the whole series that was based on those books. I find them to be so calming and nostalgic. This dvd helped me understand more about the real James Herriot and the actor who played him in the series. Also seeing those places in Yorkshire that the author refers to will help me visualise the area much better. Maybe I shall get there one day!

It was All Creatures Great and Small that intrduced me to the Yorkshire Dales and it was my wife who first suggested that we holiday there, We frankly love the place and holiday there almost every year. This DVD is an excellent introduction to the Dales as well as emphasising its relationship with Alf White (the real James Herriott) who fell in love with it just as we did and the people who are fortunate emough to live there. I dare you to watch this DVD and not want to go!