Television Review: The Thorn Birds (1983)

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(source: tmdb.org)

Today’s audience, spoiled by the quantity and quality of content in Golden Age of Television, might be tempted to look down on what used to be considered the best, the most popular and even the most iconic scripted shows on small screen. That applies even to the format that used to give name to Golden Age of Miniseries on USA television in late 1970s and early 1980s. One of such miniseries that might not look as good today as it did at that time is The Thorn Birds, directed by Daryl Duke.

The plot is based on the best-selling novel by Australian writer Colleen McCullough. It begins in 1920 when hard-working Irish immigrant Paddy Cleary (played by Richard Kiley) arrives from New Zealand to Australia to live and work on Drogheda, huge estate owned by his rich widowed sister Mary Carson (played by Barbara Stanwyck). She is regularly visited by Father Ralph De Bricassart (played by Richard Chamberlain), young and handsome Catholic priest who was exiled in remote Outback parish after disobeying bishop. He hopes to win the favour of an old woman in order to make her leave most of her estate to Church in her last will. She openly lusts after Ralph and later gets infuriatingly mad when it becomes obvious that the young priest shows affection to Cleary’s beautiful daughter Maggie (played by Rachel Ward). Driven by jealousy and anger, she writes new will which would give most of her huge wealth to Church, but also guarantee that Ralph and Maggie are separated. After she dies, her plan works as intended – Ralph, credited for financial gain, rapidly advances in the Church hierarchy and leaves to pursue career that would ultimately make him cardinal; Meggie marries farm worker Luke O’Neill (played by Bryan Brown), leaves Drogheda and deliberately gets pregnant. The fate would, however, briefly reunite her with Ralph and during that encounter two of them won’t suppress romantic feelings for each other.

Originally aired in four feature-length episodes, The Thorn Birds became one of the most popular miniseries of its time, not only in USA but also in the rest of the world. This could be, to a degree, explained by high production values and an attempt to provide audience with epic “larger than life” story unlike those in regular television shows. The plot, which is in essence the simple story about forbidden love, is enhanced through its epic scope that covers various decades, locations on different continents, multitude of interesting characters and occasional exploration of more serious subjects like religion and class. Daryl Duke’s direction is solid and the audience probably wouldn’t notice that the series, despite set mostly in Australia, was actually shot in California and Hawaii. But the greatest asset is the cast. Richard Chamberlain, already known as “the King of Miniseries”, delivers another great performance and brilliantly plays character torn between duty, ambition and love. Role of Father de Bricassart might not be the best, but is definitely the most iconic in his long and successful career. His partner, former English model Rachel Ward, is also very good and, despite aristocratic background, convincingly portrays stubborn and independent plebeian woman. However, not all casting choices are fortunate. Having Hollywood icon like Barbara Stanwyck with recognisably American accent at times makes suspension of disbelief difficult, and same could be said of most of her compatriots that play Australian characters. Bryan Brown, the only Australian among the main cast, however, used this opportunity well and began Hollywood career and also married Ward in real life. The final element that made The Thorn Birds successful is excellent soundtrack by Henry Mancini, one of the best in the history of television. Some viewers, especially those who are more cynical, might have some issues with too much melodrama, especially near the end. Those who don’t mind little soap in their on screen diet would, on the other hand, appreciate this miniseries.

RATING: 5/10 (++)