The Thorn Birds | |
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DVD cover | |
Genre | Drama Romance |
Written by | Carmen Culver Lee Stanley Colleen McCullough (novel) |
Directed by | Daryl Duke |
Starring | |
Theme music composer | Henry Mancini |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 4 |
Production | |
Executive producers | |
Producers |
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Production locations |
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Cinematography | Bill Butler |
Editors |
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Running time | 467 minutes |
Production companies |
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Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
Release | |
Original network | ABC |
Picture format | Color |
Audio format | Mono |
Original release | March 27 March 30, 1983 | –
Chronology | |
Followed by | The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years (1996) |
The Thorn Birds is an American television miniseries broadcast on ABC from March 27 to 30, 1983. It starred Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Barbara Stanwyck, Christopher Plummer, Piper Laurie, Jean Simmons, Richard Kiley, Bryan Brown, Mare Winningham and Philip Anglim. It was directed by Daryl Duke and based on the 1977 novel of the same name by Colleen McCullough. The series was enormously successful and became the United States' second highest-rated miniseries of all time behind Roots; both series were produced by television veteran David L. Wolper.
Further information: The Thorn Birds § Plot |
Actor | Role |
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Richard Chamberlain | Ralph de Bricassart |
Rachel Ward | Meggie Cleary (as an adult) |
Sydney Penny | Meggie Cleary (as a child) |
Barbara Stanwyck | Mary Carson |
Richard Kiley | Paddy Cleary |
Jean Simmons | Fee Cleary |
Bryan Brown | Luke O'Neill |
Mare Winningham | Justine O'Neill |
Philip Anglim | Dane O'Neill |
Ken Howard | Rainer Hartheim |
John Friedrich | Frank Cleary |
Dwier Brown | Stuart Cleary (as an adult) |
Vidal Peterson | Stuart Cleary (as a child) |
Piper Laurie | Anne Mueller |
Earl Holliman | Luddie Mueller |
Christopher Plummer | Archbishop Vittorio di Contini-Verchese |
Brett Cullen | Bob Cleary |
Stephen W. Burns | Jack Cleary |
Barry Corbin | Pete |
Holly Palance | Miss Carmichael |
John de Lancie | Alastair MacQueen |
Allyn Ann McLerie | Mrs. Smith |
Richard Venture | Harry Gough |
Stephanie Faracy | Judy |
Antoinette Bower | Sarah MacQueen |
The novel was originally developed as a feature film with Ed Lewis attached to produce. Ivan Moffat wrote an early draft of the script. Herbert Ross was the first director, and he saw Christopher Reeve about playing the lead. Then Peter Weir became attached to direct; Robert Redford was the favourite to play the lead. Eventually Weir dropped out and Arthur Hiller was going to direct; Ryan O'Neal was mooted as a star. Eventually it was decided to turn it into a mini series.[1][2]
The role of Meggie Cleary became the most sought after role of the production, and was considered the role of a lifetime. Many actresses campaigned and auditioned for the role over a long period of pre-production. British actress Lynne Frederick was one of many actresses who heavily campaigned for the role. Frederick even dyed her hair red to showcase herself. Other actresses who auditioned for the part included Michelle Pfeiffer, Jane Seymour, Olivia Newton-John, and Kim Basinger.
The Thorn Birds was released on VHS in 1991 in the US and Canada; it was re-released on DVD in the US and Canada on February 3, 2004. Both editions were given a "Not Rated" certification. It is rated PG in New Zealand for violence, sexual references, coarse language and nudity.
A followup titled The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years was broadcast by CBS in 1996. It tells the story of the 19 years unaccounted for in the original miniseries.