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

Writer:

Lee Stanley (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

27 March 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Love unattainable. Forbidden forever.

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:

Priest | Ranch | Australia | 1960s | Sheep Ranch

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)
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)

Series Directed by
Daryl Duke		(4 episodes, 1983)

Series Writing credits
Carmen Culver		(4 episodes, 1983)
Colleen McCullough		(4 episodes, 1983)
Lee Stanley		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Irving Paul Lazar	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1983)
Edward Lewis	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1983)
Stan Margulies	....	producer (4 episodes, 1983)
David L. Wolper	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1983)
Lee Stanley	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Henry Mancini		(4 episodes, 1983)

Series Cinematography by
Bill Butler		(4 episodes, 1983)

Series Film Editing by
Carroll Timothy O'Meara		(2 episodes, 1983)
Robert F. Shugrue		(2 episodes, 1983)

Series Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster		(4 episodes, 1983)

Series Production Design by
Robert MacKichan		(4 episodes, 1983)

Series Art Direction by
Robert MacKichan		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Jerry Adams		(4 episodes, 1983)

Series Costume Design by
Travilla		(4 episodes, 1983)

Series Makeup Department
Del Acevedo	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1983)
Lee Crawford	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1983)
Marina Hart	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Sharleen Rassi	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Henry Kline	....	unit production manager (4 episodes, 1983)
George Taylor	....	post-production supervisor (4 episodes, 1983)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jim Gardner	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1983)
Warren Gray	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1983)
Eric Jones	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1983)

Series Art Department
Victor E. Petrotta Sr.	....	property master (4 episodes, 1983)
Ray Pedler	....	scenic artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Richard Wagner	....	sound (4 episodes, 1983)
Don Crosby	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 1983)
Al Kajita	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 1983)
Larry Kaufman	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 1983)
Alan Potter	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 1983)

Series Special Effects by
Doug Hubbard	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
David Stipes	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Carol Daniels	....	stunt double: Barbara Stanwyck, Rachel Ward (4 episodes, 1983)
Kim Kahana	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Emmanuel Vouniozos	....	on-set technician (4 episodes, 1983)
Colin J. Campbell	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician (unknown episodes)
To Lee	....	camera assistant trainee (unknown episodes)
Johnny Walker	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Thomas S. Dawson	....	costume: men (4 episodes, 1983)
Donna Roberts	....	costume supervisor: women (4 episodes, 1983)
Jerry Herrin	....	costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Richard Nash	....	musician: trombone soloist (4 episodes, 1983)
Jay Alfred Smith	....	music editor (4 episodes, 1983)
Henry Mancini	....	composer: song "Anywhere the Heart Goes" (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Paul Pav	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1983)
Sandra Seacat	....	acting coach: Rachel Ward (4 episodes, 1983)
Terrance Sweeney	....	technical advisor / religious consultant (4 episodes, 1983)
Anne Warner	....	script supervisor (3 episodes, 1983)
Elise Ganz	....	studio teacher (unknown episodes)
Carol Green	....	unit publicist (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1983) (USA) (TV)
• TV1 (1997) (Estonia) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Toni Howard & Associates  casting

Also Known As:

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 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

David Wolper-Stan Margulies Productions

Trivia:

Olivia Newton-John auditioned for the part of Meggie.

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 "Yperoha plasmata: Ftou xelefteria (#1.22)" (2008)

My opinions

I was only 2 when the miniseries first came out, but when I was in the 6th grade it was on TV, and the part that I saw that hooked me, was when Meggie was coming down the stairs at Mary Carsons birthday party. Ever since then it has been my most loved film of all time. I even showed it to my boyfriend and he actually liked it.

I wouldn't change anything from the miniseries and I believe that everyone in it were excellent, especially Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, and Christopher Plummer. I believe if anyone was played by a different person, it wouldn't completely satisfy us viewers. About a year ago I created a webpage dedicated to The Thorn Birds (only) so if you would like to see it, e-mail me or click through under the photos link if it is listed. Or just go to yahoo and do a search.

I also am writing a sequal of my own to it so if anyone is curious as to what it's about, don't hesitate to email me.

On a down note, they shouldn't have made the sequal 'the missing years'. The people in it weren't good enough at their character, only Richard Chamberlain was in it, and the storyline just didn't do anything for the original. If you haven't seen The Thorn Birds yet, just see Thorn Birds, and do not see the sequal unless you just want to see it to see how disappointing it is compared to the original. It also wasn't good to alter the actual characteristics of the original characters (such as Fee). Quite disapointing in my opinion, and many others seem to agree with me.

Enjoy! Long live The Thorn Birds! P.S if anyone knows if thorn birds will be coming out on DVD or know where I can contact someone to ask, please please PLEASE let me know!