Below is a list of my favorite television productions about the British Empire:
FAVORITE TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS ABOUT THE BRITISH EMPIRE
1. “Black Sails” (2014-2017) – Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine created this historical adventures series that is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel, “Treasure Island”. Toby Stephens, Hannah New and Luke Arnold starred.
2. “Heat of the Sun” (1998) – Russell Lewis and Timothy Prager created this crime drama limited series about a British police officer in early 1930s Kenya. Trevor Eve starred.
3. “The Jewel in the Crown” (1984) – Art Malik, Geraldine James, Charles Dance and Tim Pigott-Smith starred in this fourteen-episode adaptation of Paul Scott’s Raj Quartet novels (1965–1975) about the last years of the British Empire in India. The series was created by Christopher Morahan, Jim O’Brien, Ken Taylor and Irene Shubik.
4. “Outlander” (2014-present) – Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan stars in this television adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s novels about a former English World War II nurse who ends up time traveling to the 18th century. Ronald D. Moore developed the series.
5. “Indian Summers” (2015-2016) – Paul Rutman created this series about the collision of the British and Indian communities in Simla, during the British Raj in the early-to-mid 1930s. Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Nikesh Patel, Jemima West and Julie Walters starred.
6. “Noble House” (1988) – Pierce Brosnan starred in this television adaptation of James Clavell’s 1981 about a business tycoon and the British business community in Hong Kong during the late 20th century. Directed by Gary Nelson; Deborah Ruffin, John Rhys-Davies and Ben Masters co-starred.
7. “The Far Pavilions” (1984) Ben Cross and Amy Irving starred in this television adaptation of M.M. Kaye’s 1978 novel about an English Army officer in India during the 1870s. Peter Duffell directed.
8. “The Long Song” (2018) – Tamara Lawrence starred in this television adaptation of Andrea Levy’s 2010 novel about a Jamaica woman’s memories of the last years of British slavery and early years of emancipation during the 1830s. Hayley Atwell and and Jack Lowden co-starred.
9. “The Letter” (1982) – Lee Remick starred in this television remake of W. Somerset Maugham’s 1927 stage play about rubber plantation administrator’s wife, who claims self-defense after shooting a neighbor. Directed by John Erman, the television movie co-starred Ronald Pickup, Jack Thompson and Ian McShane.
10. “The Flame Trees of Thika” (1981) – Haley Mills, Holly Aird and David Robb starred in this adaptation of Elspeth Huxley’s 1959 book about British settlers in pre-World War I Kenya. Roy Ward Baker directed.
Honorable Mention: “George Washington” (1984) – Barry Bostwick starred in this three-part miniseries about George Washington – from childhood to the end of the American Revolution. Directed by Buzz Kulick, the miniseries co-starred Patty Duke, David Dukes and Jaclyn Smith.
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