I've claimed that The Poseidon Adventure is my ultimate guilty pleasure. Perhaps, after tonight, I should amend the list of wickedly bad things I love.
You see, while watching The Romance Channel tonight, I was reminded of my twisted love for the very epic, yet very creepy mini-series, The Thorn Birds.
Even since I was a wee one, I've been fascinated by this film. And although I am a major sucker for any sort of generational saga, The Thorn Birds has a power over me that I can't quite rationalize nor verbalize.
I ask myself the difficult questions:
Why am I so enthralled by that Australian trash epic? Why am I so determined to watch a love affair between a proud priest and a God-hating girl? Why do I continue to watch, even when I find myself putting a blanket over my head during all the "I'm breaking all my vows" sort of scenes?
What draws me in?
Perhaps the spell has something to do with the unsettling Richard Chamberlain as Father Ralph de Bricassart.
Similar to David "call me a magician and I'll kill you" Copperfield, Chamberlain has has a look in his eyes that just isn't, well, right. I'd probably describe it as the look of a man who's had to make mini-series love to one too many women.
The image of The Chamberlain will give me goosebumps -- and not the "isn't he handsome" sort. I may not know a lot about the film industry or acting, but I do know that this probably isn't a desired effect.
If you've ever seen the film The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao, think of the scene featuring Tony Randall as the goat-man, Pan.
Multiple the disturbing suaveness of that creature by 1/4 and you've nailed how I feel about Chamberlain.
But like a car wreck, I can not turn away and I find myself watching The Thorn Birds for the thousandth time in my life.
That's just not right.
And what's worse? I've inflicted the film onto Ben.
I must admit, I have never seen the Thorn Birds, but you have my curiosity to such a peak that I must go out and find it now to watch...
Posted by: Hanna | January 04, 2002 at 06:40 AM
I wasn't smitten with the series... but that's because I was smitten with the book. I couldn't get enough of it. I embarrassed myself defending the book as 'literature' to my English teacher in college, who claimed it was trash. Fortunately, he didn't hold it against me and 18 years later we're still friends.
Posted by: caroline | January 04, 2002 at 07:44 AM
I really loved the book too. It's the cream of the crop of trash lit!
Posted by: cecily | January 04, 2002 at 09:14 AM
Never seen The Thorn Birds, but The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao is one of my ten favorite movies. Awesome stuff... although the kid in it is annoying with all his damn dancing around...
Posted by: Ryan | January 04, 2002 at 11:14 AM
Oh, the book -- I get so swept away with it. I actually considered re-reading it last night. How much do I wish I could disassociate the book from the movie though.
I think now I'll try to picture Noah Wyle as Fr. Ralph. I think he'd be a good distraction :)
Posted by: Mena | January 04, 2002 at 12:15 PM
well, you just brought back the memory of my mother, aunt, and grandmother tearfully indulging in 3-way calls over this bloody miniseries. honestly, I think the Thornbirds is the reason why I don't like the genre...but I have to admit, giving oneself over to this sort of thing has an indulgent sweetness that makes me wish I had television. Poor Ben.
Posted by: Nicole | January 04, 2002 at 05:08 PM
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DATE: 01/04/2002 08:34:12 PM
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DATE: 01/04/2002 08:34:12 PM
Posted by: | January 04, 2002 at 08:34 PM
Well, after having a great laugh at your love/hate affair with tthis mini-series, you have definitely piqued my curiosity! I must go and investigate both The Thorn Birds and The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao.
Posted by: Chen | January 06, 2002 at 12:32 AM
Having just seen Joaquin Phoenix in 'Quills' I am now convinced he'd make a good Father Ralph, though a little young, perhaps.
Posted by: caroline | January 06, 2002 at 03:34 AM
It is funny to read all of the comments about the book and film. Last night I sat at a table with women ranging from 22 to 55. We began talking about the movie and when it would be released on dvd. As those of us who had seen it began describing the book to the two who had not, i am certain we made quite an impression on the tables surrounding us. We began gushing over the story, and not surprisingly Richard Chamerland, *sigh*. The conversation lasted almost 10 minutes and was one of the more recent heart felt moments I recall. If "trash" can connect seven women together in such a manner that defies age, then I would like to know what classifies something as literature.
Posted by: Jmarie | September 17, 2002 at 11:53 AM
Hey, I LOVE Richard Chamberlain in the role as Father Ralph. There's just something so sexy about that man in a priest's frock. He's a beautiful man, and I don't find him creepy at all, but I found your account hilarious nonetheless. hehe
Posted by: Christina | November 22, 2002 at 10:22 AM