FX / Hulu
It only took 44 years for a new adaptation ofShōgunto come along and remind viewer that the tardy James Clavell was an incredible author . Clavell was a solider in the British army during World War II , and he stick out a harsh stint as a POW before his eventual release . Those experience informed his composition as he went on to become an acclaimed film writer , director , and novelist . Shōgunmay be Clavell ’s most notable work , but it ’s far from his only chef-d’oeuvre .
5. Noble House (1988)
Noble Housescored quite the takeover by landing futureJames Bondactor Pierce Brosnan for the leading function of Ian Dunross concisely after he lost his first fortune to play James Bond . UnlikeShōgun , imposing Houseisn’t an military action - packed write up . rather it ’s a tale about the competition between Dunross and Quillan Gornt ( John Rhys - Davies ) over the Hong Kong - free-base trading company Struan & Company .
It ’s Dunross ’ job to direct Straun , the titular Noble House , out of its hard financial difficulty . But because Gornt is so eager to destroy Dunross and take his ship’s company away , Dunross is forced to assay out some unsavory confederation in ordination to save Straun . And sometimes , the stake are more than just fiscal .
Noble Houseisn’t presently available to pelt .
FX/Hulu
4. King Rat (1965)
King Ratwas based on Clavell ’s experiences as a prisoner , but fictionalise as both a novel and a feature film . Clavell ’s fictional counterpart in the story is Marlowe ( James Fox ) , a British pilot who is bear alongside other POW in a Japanese prison camp . That ’s where Marlowe meets the form of address character , Corporal King ( George Segal ) , an American who flourish in the coterie because he runs the mordant market for good .
Marlowe works with King at the camp , and they develop a rapport . But King is a little bit too comfortable on his throne , and his might starts to wane as the warfare winds down .
split or buyKing RatonPrime Videoor other digital outlets .
3. Shōgun (1980)
The unexampled variant ofShōgunmay be critically spat , but so too was the original adaptation for television receiver in 1980.Shōgunis now widely regarded as one of the greatest miniseries ever made , and it run for a staggering nine minute over the course of five nights . Richard Chamberlain stars as John Blackthorne , an English sailor who is trapped in Japan during the early seventeenth century .
Lord Yoshi Toranaga ( Toshiro Mifune , whiz of some of the just Japanese motion-picture show ever ) allows Blackthorne to hold up as long as he serve his newfangled master . Toranaga also assigns Lady Mariko ( Yoko Shimada ) to learn Blackthorne the Japanese language and civilization . Sparks aviate between Blackthorne and Mariko despite her married couple to another man , but the tension explodes when Toranaga ’s enemies move against him and Blackthorne has to shew his loyalty .
The originalShōgunisn’t currently available to stream .
2. To Sir, with Love (1967)
Clavell wrote and directed one of his most acclaimed films , To Sir , With Love , which was free-base on the novel by E. R. Braithwaite . Sidney Poitier stars in the film as Mark Thackeray , an immigrant from British Guiana who reluctantly accepts a job as a teacher because he ca n’t procure work as an engineer . Thackeray also happen himself run a class of at - jeopardy pupil who do n’t have much desire to learn anything .
When his bookman defy him , Thackeray decides to volunteer them the chance to mark the class subject and be cover with respect as adult . Some of the students always challenge Thackeray ’s declaration , but his overture does get results .
WatchTo Sir , With LoveonPrime Video .
1. The Great Escape (1963)
Although Clavell co - wroteThe Great Escape , it was n’t establish on his own experiences as a prisoner of war . Instead , it was a fictionalized rendering of Paul Brickhill ’s book of the same name , with legendary director John Sturges at the helm . This epic war drama also has a dream mould that includes Steve McQueen , James Garner , Richard Attenborough , James Donald , Charles Bronson , Donald Pleasence , and James Coburn .
During the height of World War II , Captain Virgil Hilts ( McQueen ) and his fellow POW devise a sheer plan to hive off national socialist resources from the frontline by snitch a breakout for 250 prisoner at once . It ’s a tall orderliness even under the adept of circumstances . And if the men actually get out of the prison house summer camp , get away enemy territory with their lives may examine to be too dangerous .
Rent or buyThe Great EscapeonPrime Videoor other digital outlets .
