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The Thorn Birds ()

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Season: 1 Year: 1983
In the arid 1920s Australian Outback, a Catholic priest and the beautiful niece of a vast sheep station owner stand powerless before God's will, tormented by desire. How far are they willing to go in the name of love?
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Won 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 9 wins & 18 nominations.
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Reviews:

Photos and Videos

384 photos | 1 video

Series Cast

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  Ralph de Bricassart (4 episodes, 1983)
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  Meggie Cleary (4 episodes, 1983)
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  Archbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese (4 episodes, 1983)
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  Luke O'Neill (4 episodes, 1983)
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  Bob Cleary (4 episodes, 1983)
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  Judy (4 episodes, 1983)
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  Pete (4 episodes, 1983)
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  Alastair MacQueen (4 episodes, 1983)
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  Mary Carson (4 episodes, 1983)
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  Fiona 'Fee' Cleary (3 episodes, 1983)
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  Anne Mueller (3 episodes, 1983)
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  Luddie Mueller (3 episodes, 1983)
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  Dane O'Neill (3 episodes, 1983)
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  Frank Cleary (3 episodes, 1983)
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  Jack Cleary (3 episodes, 1983)
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  Angus MacQueen (3 episodes, 1983)
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  Miss Carmichael (3 episodes, 1983)
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  Mrs. Smith (3 episodes, 1983)
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  Rainer Hartheim (2 episodes, 1983)
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  Paddy Cleary (2 episodes, 1983)
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  Justine O'Neill (2 episodes, 1983)
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  Harry Gough (2 episodes, 1983)
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  Stuart Cleary (2 episodes, 1983)
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  Sarah MacQueen (2 episodes, 1983)
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  Arne Swenson (2 episodes, 1983)
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  Young Meggie Cleary (1 episode, 1983)
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  Young Stuart (1 episode, 1983)
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  Annie (1 episode, 1983)
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  Doc Wilson (1 episode, 1983)
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  Fair Barker (1 episode, 1983)
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  Sister Agatha (1 episode, 1983)
Lucinda Dooling ...
  Martha (1 episode, 1983)
Aspa Nakapoulou ...
  Phaedre (1 episode, 1983)
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  Motorist (uncredited) (1 episode, 1983)
Dennis Falt ...
  Enthusiastic church attendee (uncredited) (1 episode, 1983)
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  Waiter in Greece (uncredited) (1 episode, 1983)
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  Holy Communion Girl (uncredited) (1 episode, 1983)

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

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

Plot Keywords
Taglines Love unattainable. Forbidden forever. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Les oiseaux se cachent pour mourir (France)
  • Die Dornenvögel (Germany)
  • El pájaro espino (Spain)
  • Die Dornenvögel (Austria)
  • Os Pássaros Feridos (Brazil)
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Runtime
  • 122 min
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Language
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Filming Locations

Did You Know?

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Trivia Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown fell in love on the set. They were married in 1983 and have three children. See more »
Goofs 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 »
Movie Connections Featured in The 35th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1983). See more »
Soundtracks Main Title See more »
Quotes Ralph de Bricassart: [telling the legend of the thorn bird to Meggie] There's a story... a legend, about a bird that sings just once in its life. From the moment it leaves its nest, it searches for a thorn tree... and never rests until it's found one. And then it sings... more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. And singing, it impales itself on the longest, sharpest thorn. But, as it dies, it rises above its own agony, to outsing the lark and the nightingale. The thorn bird pays its life for just one song, but the whole world stills to listen, and God in his heaven smiles.
Young Meggie Cleary: What does it mean, Father?
Ralph de Bricassart: That the best... is bought only at the cost of great pain.
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