The Thorn Birds: Series 1

Amazon.co.uk Review

The second most-watched mini-series (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:

confused.......2008-03-09

I was delighted to receive my dvd in quick time as amazon always does, but the two dvds in the box were the very same, they showed episodes one and two. i was very dissapointed so i contacted amazon and they sent me out a new box set but unfortunatley they were the same. The last bit i seen was when meggie said "im gonna marry luke o neil" that was it. has anyone had the same problem???????

Exceptional mini-series.......2008-02-27

Compulsive viewing. Grabs you from the very first moment. Chamberlain was in his heyday and the whole cast are splendid. Chamberlain plays the tormented yet ruthlessly ambitious priest extremely well. Of his series that I've seen, I'd rate this third - with Shogun first and the old b/w BBC TV Portrait of a Lady second. I only rate this one after the other because they are of such exceptional quality just as this is. For sheer enjoyment, I'm tempted to put this first but the Henry James story is a great favourite of mine and Chamberlain, unrated on the whole before as an actor, showed what he could do as Ralph - yes, another Ralph!

The thing I remember most about this series from commentaries at the time was that they filmed a whole sheep station, ie an enormous Australian location if in real life, in a tiny area with the same one flock of sheep (reportedly) wandering about. You don't notice unless you know, I think. How much this is true I can't say.

Apart from actors and story I particularly enjoyed the scenes set in North East Australia amongst the sugar cane.

Don't forget there's also a one-off TV episode that fits in during the long period when according to the original series Ralph and Maggie do not meet for a very long time. I wonder if that was made due to popular demand? Unfortunately they had to cast Maggie by someone else and Chamberlain was perhaps past his "youthful" best and more of an older character actor, but he's still so lithe and handsome that it doesn't notice much, and the story's a nice little insert. It's called The Thorn Birds The Missing Years.

The Thorn Birds - It's Wonderful!!.......2007-12-13

This mini series spans three generations of the Cleary family from the 1920's to the 1960's. At the head of the family is Mary Carson,a widow and the owner of Drogheda the largest sheep station in New South Wales. She is also probably the richest woman in Australia. Despite her advancing age she falls in love with the new priest Father Ralph de Bricassart. He is young,handsome and charismatic,but above all,ambitious. Richard Chamberlain plays this part to perfection,and Barbara Stanwyck gives a scintillating performance as the increasingly malicious and vengeful aging spurned woman.

This malice knows no bounds when her brother and his family come to work for her. She sees that Father Ralph is drawn to her niece Meggie,only a child,and played by Sydney Penny with a touching innocence. They are attracted to each other,but when Meggie grows up into a beautiful woman, now played by Rachel Ward,Mary Carson puts into action her plan to destroy Ralph. She is very perceptive,and writes a second will in which she leaves all - £13 million - to the Catholic Church so long as it appreciates the worth and ability of Ralph de Bricassart. She opens the way for him to realize his ambitions,and hopefully forget Meggie.

Yes,Ralph does realize his ambition to rise within the Church,but he cannot forget Meggie. Time and again he has reason to return to Drogheda and each time they meet he has to tear himself away from her saying that he loves God more. It is heartbreaking to watch some of these scenes. Eventually Meggie realizes that she will never marry Ralph and so marries Luke O'Neill,a visiting sheep shearer. They are not really suited and after their daughter Justine is born she leaves him. But not before she and Ralph spend a wonderful stolen time together on an island. This is the last time they will see each other for nearly twenty years,and in the meantime Meggie gives birth to their son Dane. She does not tell Ralph. She is fulfilled now with Dane. But another black cloud looms on the horizon,and history is about to repeat itself. Dane wants to become a priest. Poor Meggie. She has already given up the man she loves to God and now she is being asked to sacrifice her son too. In the end she sends him to Ralph,now a Cardinal at the Vatican. He grows very close to Dane and ordains him. He is shattered when Dane drowns in Greece. He travels to Drogheda to conduct his funeral,even though he is in his seventies and in poor health. His death follows shortly afterwards,precipitated no doubt by Meggie finally telling him that Dane was their son.

This mini series is one of the best ever,if not the best. It has such a wonderful story with so many interesting relationships and twists and turns within them. The acting is superb. Jean Simmons as Fee, Meggie's mother is very convincing as the repressed and stoic wife and mother. And then there is Christopher Plummer as Cardinal Vittorio,Ralph's mentor. He plays his part with great understanding of Ralph's sadness and conflict of mind. But of course it is Richard Chamberlain's portrayal of Ralph that dominates. He plays the part so convincingly through the decades, from the young energetic Father Ralph of the Australian Outback to the gracefully aging Cardinal de Bricassart of the Vatican. Superb!!

Romance at it's best.......2007-06-15

I, like many other romantics, first watched this mini series on TV. I was not disappointed to see again this tale of forbidden love, on DVD. The magic and torment of Ralph and Meggie's love for each other I experienced watching the first time, all came flooding back, and I was there again sharing it with them! I fell in love with Richard Chamberlain when he stared in Dr Kildaire, but he was even more attractive as Father Ralph! (It wasn't common knowledge at the time, Richard's sexual preference!)

There are some great performances from many stars including; Barbara Stanwyck, Christopher Plummer, Jean Simmons, Bryan Brown, Sydney Penny, and of course, Rachel Ward and Richard Chamberlain.

There is some confusion as this DVD is described as Series 1 but in fact it does consist of the whole TV mini series. 'The Missing Years' is the follow up series, but sadly with many different characters playing the parts. On reading reviews of the Thorn Birds Videos Vol 1, 2&3, and 4, someone said they wished the complete series was on DVD - well THIS is it!

If like me you're a romantic, then you must purchase this double sided 2 disc DVD. My only gripe is why couldn't the discs have proper labels deplicting side 1,2,3 & 4. It isn't very easy to see which is which!

The best bits; Meggie appearing to Ralph in her rose pink dress - the eye to eye contact - Wow! Their finally making love on the beautiful island, and the hauntingly romantic music - Great entertainment!

Regarding DVD features.......2007-02-27

Perhaps someone will find it useful to know that this DVD has the following DVD Features:

Languages: English, French, Italian
Hearing Impaired: English, Italian
Subtitles: English, French, Italian, Dutch, German, Spanish, Arabic, Romanian, Bulgarian.
Run Time: 464 mins

And as mentioned before in one review, it really does consist of 2 DVDs, but they have sides A and B each, so there are actually 4 DVDs.

UK DVD:

UK DVD List

UK DVD