Based on the bestselling novel, the film follows a priest and his struggle between his calling and his carnal lusts.The second most-watched miniseries (after Roots) of all time, The Thorn Birds was originally broadcast in 1983 and captivated viewers with its story of a lifelong conflict between the spirit and the flesh. Adapted from the bestselling novel by Colleen McCullough, the production stars Richard Chamberlain as a Catholic priest named Ralph de Bricassart, whose life in Australia between 1920 and 1962 is one long torment as he pines for his lover, Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward), while seeking advancement in his clergyman career. The passion and the guilt make for compelling drama, but a stellar cast of supporting players adds muscle to the proceedings: Barbara Stanwyck (who won an Emmy for her work as Meggie’s tough aunt), Jean Simmons, Richard Kiley, Christopher Plummer, Bryan Brown, and Mare Winningham. Chamberlain, who was something of the king of the miniseries form at the time, is very good in the lead, as is the often-underrated Ward. Their affair is indeed irresistible to watch, which proves to be true, too, of the story’s thick weave of church politics, forbidden desire, social change over decades, and family secrets. –Tom Keogh
Buy “The Thorn Birds” For Only $15.49
March 5, 2010
#1
Plot: Predictable throughout.
Symbolism: Heavy-handed.
Scenery: Decent (all those nice clean film sheep!) but not worth watching the film for.
Characters: Most one-dimensional, and all lacking common sense.
Acting: Mostly wooden; occasionally absurd. Meggie’s constant sexy twitching (she acts like she’s working under a lamppost 24/7)! Her son’s leaden sincerity!
Costumes and hairstyles: Styles of the 1980s serve seamlessly for the 1920s through the 1960s.
Premise: Silly.
Summary: Give this film a miss!
March 5, 2010
#2
I just howl everytime I see the scene where Chamberlain steps out of the shower and is seduced by a much, much older Barbara Stanwyck. More than likely the first time an Emmy award has been handed out for watching a diesel pursue a poofter.
March 5, 2010
#3
I was so dissapointed by this miniseries, I hadn’t read the book and hadn’t heard all the hype until after I saw it but was angry that they didn’t have enough respect to at least have the actors try the proper accents, this was Australia not America, Rachel Ward sounded english (her character is Kiwi) and Richard Chamberlain whose Father Ralph was Irish with a slight english accent was American as were the rest of the supporting cast, when they should have been a mix of Australian and English. Instead of caring about money and a big name cast, they should have worried more about telling a good story
Getting past the accents I was also bothered by the fact that they cut so much out because it didn’t focus on Meggie and Fr Ralph, this wasn’t just about them, it was about the entire Cleary family, although the stroy gravitates towards them I would have like to have seen the bond between Jims and Patsy during the second world war, I also didn’t feel the closeness between Dane and Justine was explored enough and Justine’s character lacked depth.
I could go on but think you have the picture.
Overall most of the performances were good but the lack of an accurate retelling of a story that Coleen McCullough spent such a long time working on, especially with the vivid picture she paints was a slap in the face to both writer and reader.
March 5, 2010
#4
Agree with you, Victoria, Australia: This was a totally Americanized version of McCullough’s book, filmed, I understand, in Oregon, of all places. The American accents grated on the senses. How dumb are we supposed to be to believe all the cast was Australian? How about a remake with an all-Australian cast?
March 5, 2010
#5
I am really late to the party — although this miniseries was aired in 1983, I finish watching it just now. I love the story, however I can’t help thinking that both Ralph and Meggie are very clueless. *spoiler* Ralph, make up your mind. Which one do you want? The Church or the woman? If you do want to serve God, don’t keep coming back to the woman and make her heartbroken and confused.
The same goes to Meggie. Had she known of the book ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’, she would’ve left Ralph long ago.
But without the drama, it wouldn’t be a good story, would it?