The Thorn Birds (1983– )

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. The story centers on their daughter, Meggie,... See full summary »

Stars:

Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Christopher Plummer

Won 4 Golden Globes. Another 10 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

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. The story centers on their daughter, Meggie, and her love for the family's priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart. Meggie tries to forget Ralph by marrying dashing stockman Luke O'Neill, but she and Ralph are soon reunited, with tragic consequences for them both.

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Plot Keywords:

priest | ranch | australia | 1960s | sheep ranch | 

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Taglines:

Love unattainable. Forbidden forever.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 March 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Dornenvögel

Filming Locations:

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library - 2520 Cimarron St., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

David Wolper-Stan Margulies Productions, Edward Lewis Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

477 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Rachel Ward, the water that Ralph and Meggie were swimming in on Matlock Island was ice cold.

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Goofs

Through out the miniseries you see cars driving on the right-hand side of the road. This story takes place in Australia where they have always driven on the left side of the road. Additionally, the cars in the film are left-hand drive instead of RHD.

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Quotes

Archbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese: When your rose fell to the ground, I understood at last, the sadness you always wear like a holy mantle.
Ralph de Bricassart: Oh Vittorio, I have tried so hard to get her out of my heart.
Archbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese: You think I don't know that?
Ralph de Bricassart: Then why?
Archbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese: Ralph, our God has given us freewill. And with that freewill comes the burden of choice. It is time, far past time that you took up that burden, because until you do, you cannot go on.

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Connections

Referenced in V: Hearts and Minds (2010)

User Reviews

Wow... i loved it!

My mother was given the box set DVD for Christmas, we sat down to watch it on Christmas day at about 8 o'clock, and didn't move until the early hours of the next morning. I simply couldn't drag my eyes away from the screen for one second. I became such an instant fan that as soon as I could I rushed off and bought the book, and before I knew it, I'd finished that as well! Towards the end of the film I felt myself identifying more with Justine, than I had done with Meggie the younger and elder throughout the film. Fate is always so cruel, how could Dane leave Meggie, and how could Justine desert her mother, and just how long did Fee live? That women seemed everlasting! Overall, I loved every second of it, and felt, as every women does, a very strong attraction to Richard Chamberline THROUGHOUT! I probably would've starved and gone without sleep if the book hadn't been prised away from my hands.