Yesterday's new TV-on-DVD announcements at Warner Brothers were capped by their official press release for the long-awaited classic miniseries,
The Thorn Birds. Rather than go over the whole thing ourselves, we will instead just let you read Warner Home Video's press release. Here it is, with just a few additions at the bottom where we added in details that Warner provided on a separate spec sheet for the DVD set:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Warner Home Video Proudly Presents
The Emmy® and Golden Globe® Winning Miniseries
THE THORN BIRDS
On 2-Disc DVD Collector's Set February 3, 2004
Starring Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Barbara Stanwyck, Christopher Plummer, Mare Winningham and Jean Simmons. Watched By Over 130 Million Viewers During It's Television Run, 2nd Highest Rated Miniseries of All Time.
BURBANK, CA. (November 4, 2003) - On February 3, 2004 Warner Home Video will release the Emmy® and Golden Globe® winning miniseries
THE THORN BIRDS in a special 2 - disc DVD collector's set with over 8 hours of content, just in time for Valentine's Day. Provocative, sexy and scandalous, this captivating tale of "forbidden love" chronicles 60 years in the lives of the adventurous Cleary family and Meggie Cleary's forbidden, life-long love affair with the family's priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart. The miniseries featured an extraordinary cast including Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Barbara Stanwyck, Christopher Plummer, Mare Winningham and Jean Simmons.
THE THORN BIRDS will be available on DVD for $29.98 SRP and has a pre-book date of January 6, 2003.
"
THE THORN BIRDS is one of our most acclaimed, groundbreaking television properties with tremendously wide appeal," said Rosemary Markson, WHV Executive Director, TV Marketing. "Without a doubt, this title is a must have for all the romance aficionados. We're very pleased to bring this award-winning landmark epic to DVD and provide retailers and consumers alike with a great offering for Valentine's Day."
Based on Colleen McCullough's best-selling novel, the world premiere of THE THORN BIRDS astounded over 130 million viewers during its 4-night run on television in 1983 making it the second highest rated miniseries of all time. This landmark miniseries garnered six Emmy® Awards and four Golden Globe® Awards, including Best Miniseries, Best Performance by an Actor in Miniseries for Richard Chamberlain, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special for Barbara Stanwyck and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special for Jean Simmons. Special features include a retrospective documentary, "
The Thorn Birds: Old Friends, New Stories."
The title will be supported with a national print media campaign.
BASICS:
$29.98 SRP
Street Date: February 3, 2004
Video: 4x3 fullscreen, as originally broadcast
Languages: English (mono)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Running time: 487 mins. (8+ hours)
