LOVE. UNATTAINABLE. FORBIDDEN. FOREVER.Ā
In the 1920s, a special bond is created between a Catholic priest (Richard Chamberlain) and a girl who grows up on a farm in Australia; the friendship grows into a forbidden love. A massive hit on its premiere, this epic miniseries spans four decades depicting the destructive consequences of people being denied their passions, particularly the curious affair between the two leads. Viewers were touched by the restrained romance, but the intelligent aspects of the story fall in the shadow of occasionally poor dialogue and performances and typically soapy contrivances. Barbara Stanwyck is fiery though and the Henry Mancini score memorable.
1983-U.S. Made for TV. 480 min. Directed byĀ Daryl Duke. Novel: Colleen McCullough. Music: Henry Mancini. Cast: Richard Chamberlain (Ralph de Bricassart), Rachel Ward (Meggie Cleary), Jean Simmons (Fiona Cleary), Bryan Brown, Mare Winningham, Richard Kiley… Christopher Plummer, Barbara Stanwyck, Piper Laurie.
Trivia: Originally shown in four episodes. Audrey Hepburn was allegedly considered for the part that Stanwyck played; Michelle Pfeiffer and Jane Seymour for Meggie. Followed by another miniseries, The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years (1996).
Emmys: Outstanding Actress (Stanwyck), Supporting Actor (Kiley), Supporting Actress (Simmons). Golden Globes: Best Miniseries, Actor (Chamberlain), Supporting Actress (Stanwyck), Supporting Actor (Kiley).
AVERAGE