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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
DVD Description
Please note that this is set features double-sided discs, meaning that the discs contain content on both sides.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
99 of 100 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
My earliest memory, and maybe my happiest one, is of watching The Thorn Birds with my mother. I must have been only 3 or 4 years old at the time, but for years I carried this vague landmark of childhood with me. I couldn't remember the story clearly at all, I only remembered loving the theme music and loving the colourful settings and loving Richard Chamberlain. Twenty years later and I saw the series advertised here on Amazon, but I didn't buy it. I was just really reluctant to alter that sacred memory in any way. I finally caved in, though, and I watched the series this week.
I know this probably sounds a bit over the top, but it was just such a wonderful experience, seeing it again, seeing it properly for the first time really, but getting sudden little flashes of memory from the happiest time in my life while I watched it. It gave me a great feeling of warmth, poignant but very comforting. I can see now why the series made such a lasting impression on me as a very young child, even if the particulars of the story had been forgotten. The atmosphere and vivid richness of the settings, the excellence of the acting, the wonderfully lush colours, the haunting music, the sense of timeless high romance... they all stayed with me. I've grown into a confirmed romantic, and I'm pretty sure that The Thorn Birds must have been the formative keystone in that aspect.
The hauntingly lovely Rachel Ward gives an excellent performance as Meggie, and there is a sterling line-up of extremely high calibre actors in supporting roles (special mention has to go to Sydney Penny who plays Meggie as a child), but this series really belongs to Richard Chamberlain. I think he comes as close as anyone ever has to capturing the male romantic ideal. It's almost impossible to believe that he was nearly 50 years old when he starred here, he's so youthful. And Rachel Ward is simply his ideal screen counterpart - they make such a perfectly matched couple. Just from an aesthetic point of the view, the series is a joy to watch due to the brilliant casting of Meggie and Ralph.
I could gush for hours here, but let me just say that if you're contemplating buying this series, please don't hesitate. It's a magical way to spend a few hours. There are no extras on this release, though, which is a terrible shame, but there are subtitles, and the picture and sound quality are first rate. The series comes on 2 double-sided discs, which do require a little fevered wrestling to dislodge from their cases, but even the artwork and designs of the cover and the dvd menus are beautiful.
This really is televisual chocolate for anyone with even the tiniest streak of romance in their blood. You'll laugh, cry, grin like a moonstruck idiot, and thoroughly melt. Enjoy! :)
I know this probably sounds a bit over the top, but it was just such a wonderful experience, seeing it again, seeing it properly for the first time really, but getting sudden little flashes of memory from the happiest time in my life while I watched it. It gave me a great feeling of warmth, poignant but very comforting. I can see now why the series made such a lasting impression on me as a very young child, even if the particulars of the story had been forgotten. The atmosphere and vivid richness of the settings, the excellence of the acting, the wonderfully lush colours, the haunting music, the sense of timeless high romance... they all stayed with me. I've grown into a confirmed romantic, and I'm pretty sure that The Thorn Birds must have been the formative keystone in that aspect.
The hauntingly lovely Rachel Ward gives an excellent performance as Meggie, and there is a sterling line-up of extremely high calibre actors in supporting roles (special mention has to go to Sydney Penny who plays Meggie as a child), but this series really belongs to Richard Chamberlain. I think he comes as close as anyone ever has to capturing the male romantic ideal. It's almost impossible to believe that he was nearly 50 years old when he starred here, he's so youthful. And Rachel Ward is simply his ideal screen counterpart - they make such a perfectly matched couple. Just from an aesthetic point of the view, the series is a joy to watch due to the brilliant casting of Meggie and Ralph.
I could gush for hours here, but let me just say that if you're contemplating buying this series, please don't hesitate. It's a magical way to spend a few hours. There are no extras on this release, though, which is a terrible shame, but there are subtitles, and the picture and sound quality are first rate. The series comes on 2 double-sided discs, which do require a little fevered wrestling to dislodge from their cases, but even the artwork and designs of the cover and the dvd menus are beautiful.
This really is televisual chocolate for anyone with even the tiniest streak of romance in their blood. You'll laugh, cry, grin like a moonstruck idiot, and thoroughly melt. Enjoy! :)
104 of 108 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
The Thorn Birds is a must see to true romantics. If you love a tortured romance you'll love this film. From Colleen McCullough's best selling novel, the Thorn Birds is the story of a young priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart, (Richard Chamberlain) Who is torn between his ambition and the love of a woman. The Thorn Birds spands three generations. The raw Australian outback is the perfect backdrop for this timeless love story. Rachel Ward gives an outstanding performance, as Meggie Cleary, the object of Ralph's desires. Also not to be missed are the wonderful performances given by, Barbra Stanwyck, Christopher Plummer, Gene Simmons, and Brian Brown. A love so unatainable, forbidden, forever. The Thorn Birds.
This movie is an all time epic if there ever was one. The love story pulls you in and never lets you go. The Thorn Birds is one of my all time favorite films. Please give this remarkable film a chance to capture your heart, the way it's captured mine.
This movie is an all time epic if there ever was one. The love story pulls you in and never lets you go. The Thorn Birds is one of my all time favorite films. Please give this remarkable film a chance to capture your heart, the way it's captured mine.
65 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Haunting and memorable !!
Yes , its my earliest childhood tv show which has concepts of love and death that have stayed with me all my life ! Read more
Published 1 month ago by davidinator
The Thorn Birds
Although I bought this last year, I have just come to watch it. The quality of the DVD is very poor. It is blared and constantly keeps stopping and skipping scenes. Read more
Published 1 month ago by a smith
Brill
Replaced my r
eally old videos of The Thorne Birds with these dvds, loveley not disappointed. Still one of my favourite rainy day viewings.
eally old videos of The Thorne Birds with these dvds, loveley not disappointed. Still one of my favourite rainy day viewings.
Published 5 months ago by yarby
The Thorn Birds
An amazing film. Unfortunately, the set produced and offered today is not complete, missing the second installment and the finall installment. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Gladys L. Cotton
Second time lucky ..
I wrote a review before which was critical of the fact that the original disc was defective. It never made it to the website?? I wonder why?? Read more
Published 9 months ago by Tim
Thorn Birds
I sent the film back. Did not contain all the story, which was disappointing. After watching 1st cd and then put on 2nd cd to find that it starts 3 years later and misses out a... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Teresa
Excellent Film
The Thornbirds is something I watched each week with my Mum. We never missed an episode and shed many a tear. Read more
Published 9 months ago by C. Priestley
Lovely Story - a must see
Having read the book first and loving every bit of it, I then watched the dvd and loved it just as much. Read more
Published 11 months ago by VMR
Feel cheated!
I was bought this for Christmas and have finally watched this only to find that I haven't got over 400 hours, I have been robbed of the last episode, now I need to contact Amazon... Read more
Published 13 months ago by J. Hearn
Waste of mony!
I bought this dvd to see the finnish of the series as I missed it when it was on t.v. The ending was not there. I was furious. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ms. J. M. Reeves
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