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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786302150629
Format: Box set, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
ISBN: 6302150620
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Items: 4
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 26, 1995
Running Time: 477 minutes
Sales Rank: 2
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: March 27, 1983
Related Items:
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video:
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 Carson (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 grandmother), 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
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - THE ENDING MADE NO SENSE
Overall well produced TV series and I watched intently with many emotions of passion, heartache, compassion, and joy for characters portrayed. The Stanwyk character was deplorable esp. with the line: on my mouth! YIKES!!! The aging process was well done for Cardinal Vittorio, Ralph, Grandma Fi, BUT Meggie looks more gorgeous every year, esp. the last scene, they tried to grey her hair, tho unevenly, during the same scene and nary a wrinkle....no biggie compared to her whisper yelling and flat dialogue, ... Read More
Rating:  - A enjoyable ride but watch out for the accents
A classic miniseries and reasonably faithful to the book, but - ouch! Those accents are distracting if you've an ear for them. American viewers probably won't notice though.
Rating:  - TAWDRY
One word best describes this blatanly immoral sex soap opera scandalizing all and that is: Tawdry! It is as sinful as the movie "Titanic" and equally pathetic! Why one would watch this garbadge - I do not know.
Rating:  - In Defense of Rachel Ward
Although most agree that this was a gripping storyline and a classic miniseries, there were some people that criticized Rachel Ward. I would like to point out the following:
1) She was extraordinarily beautiful, hard to look away from when she was on-screen. It was plausible that a priest or any other man would be drawn to her. I can't imagine a better-cast Meggie than Rachel Ward.
2) Ward did a remarkable job of portraying convincing love scenes with a gay actor (Richard Chamberlain). ... Read More
Rating: - great
I first saw this series when I was a child and found it to be wonderful. It still stands as a terrific miniseries, even if it is melodramatic. Ward is radiant, Chamberlain is excellent, Stanwyck and Simmons are remarkable. Incredibly tragic and romantic.
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Copyright © 2003-2008 Gunnar Bengtsson, Poetry Connection. All Rights Reserved.
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786302150629
Format: Box set, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
ISBN: 6302150620
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Items: 4
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 26, 1995
Running Time: 477 minutes
Sales Rank: 2
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: March 27, 1983