[Pet Health Admin]

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 Review: Stupendous!!!
This miniseries is by far the best movie I have ever seen--and I've seen thousands! The acting, writing, directing, music, and design are all perfect. It touched me so deeply--because I could relate to many aspects of the story--that I thought about it for days. It never lost its believability and drew me deeper and deeper into its vortex of romantic suspense. Megee's self-sacrifice--placing Ralph's career above her own needs and desires--was so admirable. And her unfliching faithfulness to him despite her lonliness, if not emptiness, was even more divine than the faithfulness Ralph professed to God. She becomes a true heroine but in a different way, an inner way, than we usually think of heroines. A truly great, memorable, monumental achievement--one that many persons on many levels can and will appreciate for many years to come. I will never sell my copy--so much pleasure has it given me!--and I will probably watch it at least once a year. If you haven't yet seen it, please do--and discover an experience unlike any you have ever had in movie-going! And Oh yes, make sure you've got a good supply of tissues, instead of popcorn, at your side--you'll really need them! As I end this, I can still hear that haunting, lilting, heart-wrenching musical theme weaving in and out of my mind, and Megee's last speech to Father Ralph--a secret she hid for so long to protect him from leaving the calling he loved so well. Wow!
Customer Review: Breathtaking
This miniseries was one of the formative memories of my adolescence--I remember watching it at 14, absorbed in the story and entranced by Meggie and Ralph. I watched it again as a 34th-birthday present to myself, and it was as moving a story as I remembered. Beautiful!


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