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

Writer:

Lee Stanley (writer)

Seasons:

1

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:

Ranch | Australia | Priest | Catholic Church | Cardinal

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)
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)
Bryan Brown	...	Luke O'Neill (3 episodes, 1983)
Brett Cullen	...	Bob Cleary (3 episodes, 1983)
Bill Morey	...	Angus MacQueen (3 episodes, 1983)
Holly Palance	...	Miss Carmichael (3 episodes, 1983)
Richard Kiley	...	Paddy Cleary (2 episodes, 1983)
Piper Laurie	...	Anne Mueller (2 episodes, 1983)
Earl Holliman	...	Luddie Mueller (2 episodes, 1983)
Philip Anglim	...	Dane O'Neill (2 episodes, 1983)
John Friedrich	...	Frank Cleary (2 episodes, 1983)
Stephen W. Burns	...	Jack Cleary (2 episodes, 1983)
Richard Venture	...	Harry Gough (2 episodes, 1983)
Chard Hayward	...	Arne Swenson (2 episodes, 1983)
Dwier Brown	...	Stuart Cleary (2 episodes, 1983)
Allyn Ann McLerie	...	Mrs. Smith (2 episodes, 1983)
Antoinette Bower	...	Sarah MacQueen (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
James 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
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
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)
Terry Sweeney	....	consultant (4 episodes, 1983)
Emmanuel Vouniozos	....	on-set technician (4 episodes, 1983)
Father Terrance Sweeney	....	technical advisor (3 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 (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Toni Howard & Associates  casting

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:

The role of Mary Carson was offered to Audrey Hepburn.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: 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.

Quotes:

Meggie Cleary: That dear and gentle God who has taken from me everyone that I've loved most in the world. One by one. Frank, and Hal... and Stuie... and my father. And you, of course. Always you. If God is merciful... left me no one else to grieve.
Ralph de Bricassart: He is merciful, I know you can't see that now, but he is. He spared the rose. He sent the rain.
Meggie Cleary: Oh Ralph... who sent the fire?

Movie Connections:

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

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.