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The Thorn Birds

The Thorn Birds
★ 7.2/10•1983•2h 1m•TV-PG•Drama
Similars

Follows the Cleary family over several decades, focusing on the central, tragic romance between Meggie and Father Ralph, who is torn between his vows and his love for her.

Lee Stanley · Writer

StatusEnded
Runtime2h 1m
LanguageEN
First Air DateMar 27, 1983

Episodes

Episode 1 - Part 1E1144m

Part 1

When the wealthy but now elderly owner of a large sheep farm in the outback of Australia realizes that her affections towards a banished but ambitious young priest will never be returned, she sets out to manipulate his life and career from the grave once she discovers him giving his attention to her young niece instead.

Mar 27, 1983

Episode 2 - Part 2E297m

Part 2

Having left Australia with a significant sum of holdings in hand willed to the Catholic Church by the wealthy socialite and sheep farmer Mary Carson, Father Ralph de Bricassart finds himself courted by power brokers within the Vatican. Meanwhile, the Drogheda Ranch suffers a devastating brush fire that spawns more tragedy in the Cleary family, and eventually leads to an uneasy reunion between Meggie and Father de Bricassart. However Meggie soon meets a young suitor who captures her heart.

Mar 28, 1983

Episode 3 - Part 3E397m

Part 3

Now married, living on a sugar cane plantation, and working as a maid in Queensland, Meggie finds her new husband is more interested in his own work and dalliances than in her. She bears him a child but is still unable to change his ways. Meanwhile, Father de Bricassart has moved up in the Church hierarchy and eventually returns to Australia as a Cardinal. And in yet another uneasy reunion between himself and Meggie, he finally succumbs to temptation by consummating forbidden love and breaking his vow of chastity.

Mar 29, 1983

Episode 4 - Part 4E4144m

Part 4

Meggie has repeated the mistakes of her past by favoring her son over her daughter. She finally admits the truth about Dane's paternity to Ralph and reconciles with both her mother Fee and her daughter Justine.

Mar 30, 1983

Actors

Richard Chamberlain

Richard Chamberlain

Ralph de Bricassart

Rachel Ward

Rachel Ward

Meggie Cleary

Christopher Plummer

Christopher Plummer

Archbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese

Bryan Brown

Bryan Brown

Luke O'Neill

Brett Cullen

Brett Cullen

Bob Cleary

Stephanie Faracy

Stephanie Faracy

Judy

Barry Corbin

Barry Corbin

Pete

John de Lancie

John de Lancie

Alastair MacQueen

Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck

Mary Carson

Jean Simmons

Jean Simmons

Fiona Fee Cleary

Richard Kiley

Richard Kiley

Paddy Cleary

Piper Laurie

Piper Laurie

Anne Mueller

Earl Holliman

Earl Holliman

Ludie Mueller

Mare Winningham

Mare Winningham

Justine ONeill

Philip Anglim

Philip Anglim

Dane ONeill

Ken Howard

Ken Howard

Rainer Hartheim

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