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

Director:

Daryl Duke

Writers:

Carmen Culver (writer)
Colleen McCullough (novel)

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:

Nun | Unknown Child | Vatican | Cardinal | Forbidden Love

Awards:

Won 4 Golden Globes. Another 10 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Richard Chamberlain	...	Ralph de Bricassart
Rachel Ward	...	Meggie Cleary
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Mary Carson
Christopher Plummer	...	Archbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese
Jean Simmons	...	Fiona 'Fee' Cleary
Richard Kiley	...	Paddy Cleary
Ken Howard	...	Rainer Hartheim
Piper Laurie	...	Anne Mueller
Earl Holliman	...	Luddie Mueller
Mare Winningham	...	Justine O'Neill
Bryan Brown	...	Luke O'Neill
Philip Anglim	...	Dane O'Neill
John Friedrich	...	Frank Cleary
Stephen W. Burns	...	Jack Cleary (as Stephan Burns)
Brett Cullen	...	Bob Cleary

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:

Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown fell in love on the set. They were married in 1983 and have three children.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Mary Carson is discovered dead, you can see Barbara Stanwyck's chest moving as she continues to breathe.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Sopranos: College (#1.5)" (1999)

Great Series!

This is an epic series that truly has it all. Drama, tragedy, forbidden love...u can't go wrong. I was glued to the TV when it came on the hallmark channel. But it's LONG. You have to break it down into different days because it's like 10 hours long. I think it's better than Gone with the Wind. But that's just me! It takes you on this long journey of the Cleary family in the early 1900's all the way to the 1950's. Sometimes Rachel Ward's and Richard Chamberlain's acting is a little on the dramatic side, but it's OK. It really does add to the whole story. I actually bought the DVD and it was pretty reasonable...only $24.99. You just get mesmerized by this story and it takes you to another time and place and just can't help wondering what is going to happen in the end.