The Thorn Birds

Am I an old pervert but does anybody else agree the best bit was Richard Chamberline on the porch, starkers, drying himself. How sad was I when I found out he was gay, lucky fellas I say.

They don't make them like that do they.

I loved the book and was disappointed with the TV series .... always imagined Ralph to look like the young Ian McShane, not Richard Chamberlain!

I'll give the musical a miss.

What is this passion for turning everything, however unsuitable, into a musical? The London stage seems to be full of them. Benedict Cumberbatch has far too strong features, and acting style, for Ralph, who should be beautiful but bland.
Mind you I have been saying for ages that I would love to see him in a romantic role. Does anyone know if he can sing.

benedict cumberbatch is more like the description of ralph in the book, isn't he? though i'm going back thirty years so i might be wrong.

With Brideshead Revisited the original film on DVD costs 3 times more than the new remake. A new make of Thorn Birds won't have the same suspense because today's cinema is so short lived. Cinema goers want instant gratification and we waited weeks on end for Ralph and Meggie to get together.

It's the same with Titanic - impressive when it first came out I thought but now it's been remade in 3D and it's on television as well! Enough is too much, methinks

Been out all day and just logged on to see what anyone had to say, if anything at all. Seems most of us agree that Richard Chamberlain can't be replaced as Ralph. He was gorgeous in his younger days, you can't blame Meggie for being so persistent!

Perhaps it's just a totally wrong idea to make it into a musical, and if it ain't broke don't try to fix it, or something like that!!!

David Tennant - that's a brilliant idea and he's definitely not gay

I loved it but can't see how it would work as a musical. and maybe that is a sign of getting older, and a younger generation should be allowed to make up their minds anew. Oh how I loved Richard Chamberlain

OH there can never be anyoone like Richard Chamberlin. Remember those island scenes on the beach. I couln't sleep for ages after that!

Crimson you've actually seen Richard Chamberlain in the flesh? How fantastic is that. I fell for him ever since his Dr Kildare days when my dad set up a reel to reel taperecorder and recorded the programmes for me so I could relive them later. It broke my heart when I learned he was gay. Like other GNs I can't imagine anyone else in The Thornbirds. I wept buckets at the end of that, it was sooooo sad. Benedict Cumberbatch is nothing like the character but perhaps I'm missing something. David Tennant perhaps? He looks a tortured enough soul.

Just ordered the complete set of DVDs (14 hours). When I shall watch it I don't know, need to be bedridden for a week or two! It is so long since it appeared on TV I shall have forgotten a lot of the story I expect. Am I right in thinking the ending is different to that in the book? Seem to remember that from somewhere.

I was a terrible book snob in those days, but borrowed the book from a neighbour when I went on holiday one year..and loved every minute of it! I saw Richard Chamberlain, very briefly, when he walked past me one day. He came to Birmingham to work at the theatre for a while; that's when I realised there was more to him than Hollywood good looks.

I loved it too. Also remember Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward - who are now an 'old' married couple living in Sydney! Can't imagine it on stage though

Wow, that`s going back a bit, around about 1983/84 if I`m not mistaken? I loved it, as did my eldest daughter, we had to tape it for her when she went into hospital in the middle of it all. I also can`t picture anyone other than Richard Chamberlain in that part.

I can't see it working on the stage. It will have to be changed a lot. I shall never be able to picture anyone other than Richard Chamberlain. Oh how I used to love the series!

I loved the book, in fact would rate as one of my favourite top 10, but thought the series was ok, not sure about a stage show.

I loved The Thorn Birds but can't see the appeal of Rupert PJ. Putting my thinking cap on now!

I have no interest in The Thorn Birds but would watch anything with Rupert Penry-Jones in.