The Thorn Birds Poster

The Thorn Birds (1983)

TV Mini-Series  -  460 min  -  Drama
7.8
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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... See full summary »

Writer:

Lee Stanley
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Season:

1

Year:

1983
Won 4 Golden Globes. Another 10 wins & 17 nominations See more awards »
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Cast

Series cast summary:
Richard Chamberlain ...
Ralph de Bricassart (4 episodes, 1983)
Rachel Ward ...
Meggie Cleary (4 episodes, 1983)
Christopher Plummer ...
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 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 Earl Holliman ...
Luddie Mueller (3 episodes, 1983)
Philip Anglim Philip Anglim ...
Dane O'Neill (3 episodes, 1983)
John Friedrich John Friedrich ...
Frank Cleary (3 episodes, 1983)
Stephen W. Burns Stephen W. Burns ...
Jack Cleary (3 episodes, 1983)
Bill Morey Bill Morey ...
Angus MacQueen (3 episodes, 1983)
Holly Palance ...
Miss Carmichael (3 episodes, 1983)
Allyn Ann McLerie 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 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)
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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. Written by Eric Sorensen <Eric_Sorensen@fc.mcps.k12.md.us>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Ranch | Australia | 1960s | Sheep Ranch  | See more »

Taglines:

Desire. Passion. Scandal. See more »

Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Die Dornenvögel See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Israel:  | USA:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Olivia Newton-John auditioned for the part of Meggie. See more »

Goofs

Factual errors: The name of the farm is mispronounced. It is named after the Irish town Drogheda. The American cast did not know that 'gh' in Irish is pronounced like an 'h' in English. The cast said Drow-Geeda whereas the proper pronunciation is Dro-huh-duh, where Dro is pronounced like in "drop". See more »

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.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Mario Cantone: Laugh Whore (2005) See more »