"The Thorn Birds" (1983) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Writer:

Lee Stanley (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

27 March 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Drama

Tagline:

Desire. Passion. Scandal.

Plot:

This mini series covers 60 years in the lives of the Cleary family, brought from New Zealand to Australia to run their aunt Mary Carson's ranch...

Plot Keywords:

Ranch | Australia | Priest | Literature | 1960s

Awards:

Won 4 Golden Globes. Another 10 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Richard Chamberlain	...	Ralph de Bricassart (4 episodes, 1983)
Rachel Ward	...	Meggie Cleary (4 episodes, 1983)
Christopher Plummer	...	Archbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese (4 episodes, 1983)
Stephanie Faracy	...	Judy (4 episodes, 1983)
Barry Corbin	...	Pete (4 episodes, 1983)
John de Lancie	...	Alastair MacQueen (4 episodes, 1983)
Jean Simmons	...	Fiona 'Fee' Cleary (3 episodes, 1983)
Bryan Brown	...	Luke O'Neill (3 episodes, 1983)
Brett Cullen	...	Bob Cleary (3 episodes, 1983)
Bill Morey	...	Angus MacQueen (3 episodes, 1983)
Holly Palance	...	Miss Carmichael (3 episodes, 1983)
Richard Kiley	...	Paddy Cleary (2 episodes, 1983)
Piper Laurie	...	Anne Mueller (2 episodes, 1983)
Earl Holliman	...	Luddie Mueller (2 episodes, 1983)
Philip Anglim	...	Dane O'Neill (2 episodes, 1983)
John Friedrich	...	Frank Cleary (2 episodes, 1983)
Stephen W. Burns	...	Jack Cleary (2 episodes, 1983)
Richard Venture	...	Harry Gough (2 episodes, 1983)
Chard Hayward	...	Arne Swenson (2 episodes, 1983)
Dwier Brown	...	Stuart Cleary (2 episodes, 1983)
Allyn Ann McLerie	...	Mrs. Smith (2 episodes, 1983)
Antoinette Bower	...	Sarah MacQueen (2 episodes, 1983)

Runtime:

Israel:460 min | USA:477 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

David Wolper-Stan Margulies Productions

Trivia:

Tristan Rogers was heavily considered to play the role of Father Ralph.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the shearers leave Drogheda, and Luke stays, he walks back to the wool-shed. As the camera rises following him, a part of the crane is visible in the lower right corner of the image.

Quotes:

Anne Mueller: Oh, Meggie! You've the face of an angel and the body of a goddess, and what you mean is, you don't know how to make a man get you pregnant? What you need is a good education. Lady Chatterley's lover! And Henry Miller, definitely Henry Miller!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in O videoklabas (1987) (V)

The greatest romantic mini-series of all time!

Richard Chamberlain became an even bigger heartthrob with the advent of this epic mini-series, Rachel Ward became a star, and Barbara Stanwyk made a major comeback and stole the show in only three hours of on-screen time. "The Thorn Birds", based on Colleen McCullough's best-selling epic novel takes place in the Australia of the 1920's and stretches across three generations to the 1960's and tells the story of a life-long romance between an ambitious priest (Chamberlain) and the woman who only wanted his love. Rachel Ward is a beautiful rose as Meggie, Richard Chamberlain is an ideal Ralph de Bricassart and Barbara Stanwyk is at her best as Mary Carson, Meggie's aunt, the richest yet loneliest woman in Australia. She desires Ralph for herself but he easily spurns her and she takes revenge on him with unmerciful vengeance. He had broken his vow of obedience prior to meeting Mary Carson and she sets out to cause him to break his other vows of poverty and especially chastity. When she dies suddenly she leaves her entire estate to the Church in Rome with Ralph in soul charge as overseer (vow of poverty now broken). She also knows that sooner or later he will hopelessly succumb to Meggie's wish of receiving his love. Several years pass before that vow is broken but it eventually is and what comes of it is a deep, dark secret that will either make or break Ralph. The entire supporting cast is brilliant also: Barbara Stanwyk, Richard Kiley and Jean Simmons all won an Emmy for their performances. Piper Laurie, Christopher Plummer and Bryan Brown were all nominated but poor, little Rachel Ward and Mare Winningham got the shaft. See it! It's a full, rich story with powerful stamina!