# It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet

It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (in the United States also known as All Things Bright and Beautiful), is a 1976 sequel to the 1975 film All Creatures Great and Small. Although having the same title as James Herriot's second novel, the film is actually based on his third and fourth novels, Let Sleeping Vets Lie and Vet in Harness, which in the United States were released as a compilation volume titled All Things Bright and Beautiful. It is part of a series of movies and television series based on Herriot's novels.
In this film, John Alderton has taken over the role of James and Colin Blakely that of Siegfried (portrayed in the first film by Simon Ward and Anthony Hopkins, respectively), while Lisa Harrow returns as Helen. It also features Richard Griffiths in his debut film appearance as Sam. The film was directed by Eric Till, and the screenplay is by Alan Plater. The film, which has a British-American joint venture, was entered into the 10th Moscow International Film Festival.

## Synopsis

The story continues where All Creatures Great and Small ended, and follows the lives of James, Helen and Siegfried from 1938 until the outbreak of war.

## Main cast

* John Alderton as James Herriott
* Colin Blakely as Siegfried Farnon
* Lisa Harrow as Helen
* Bill Maynard as Hinchcliffe
* Paul Shelley as Richard
* Richard Pearson as Granville
* Rosemary Martin as Mrs Dalby
* Raymond Francis as Colonel Bosworth
* John Barrett as Crump
* Philip Stone as Jack
* Clifford Kershaw as Kendall
* Kevin Moreton as William
* Liz Smith as Mrs Dodds
* Leslie Sarony as Kirby
* Gwen Nelson as Mrs Kirby

## Production

In July 1975 the film was announced as part of a slate of eleven films from EMI with a budget of £6 million. Simon Ward was offered the lead role again but turned it down as his fee was the same as for the first film.
The film was shot in January 1976. It was known during production as All Things Bright and Beautiful.
Herriot's son Jim later recalled:
   While John Alderton provided a more forceful James Herriot, with a flash of humour always evident, Colin Blakely’s role as Siegfried was more subdued than the portrayal by Anthony Hopkins. Although he brought some wonderful comedy to the part, there was hardly a trace of the spontaneous eccentricity that was the hallmark of the real man. This was partly because Alf insisted on some changes since he was not prepared to upset Donald again. After reading the scripts in advance of shooting, he was adamant that the peaks and troughs of Siegfried’s character be smoothed out.
John Alderton was offered the part of Herriott in the television version of All Creatures Great and Small but turned it down.

## Reception

According to Herriott's biographer, "John Alderton was far and away the best of the three actors who portrayed Alf on screen, with a boyish but twinkly British charm that managed to make him appear shy and gauche without ever being wet or pathetic. Twenty years on Blakely's portrayal of Siegfried does not seem at all 'implacably fierce' but rather serious, honest, warm and highly professional."
According to Filmink the movie "had a better actor to play James Herriott (John Alderton, the great lost British film star of the 1970s) than All Creatures Great and Small, but didn’t have as compelling a story – it started with Herriott already established in Yorkshire and in love, and didn’t add anything much new."

## Home media

Released on VHS in the 1990s, the film has yet to see a commercial release on DVD in the UK (region 2) or US (region 1).