Noble House is an American action-drama television miniseries that was produced by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, and broadcast by NBC in four segments on February 21–24, 1988.

Based on the 1981 novel of the same name by James Clavell, it features a large cast headlined by Pierce Brosnan as business tycoon Ian Dunross and was directed by Gary Nelson.

Both take place in the same fictional universe with Noble House featuring connections to Shōgun and another Clavell work, Tai-Pan.

Ian Dunross (Pierce Brosnan) is appointed as tai-pan of Struan’s and the inherited legacy of intense rivalry and hatred between him and Quillan Gornt (John Rhys-Davies) and his company Rothwell-Gornt reaches its highest level.

As a result, Dunross is courting the owner of Par Con Industries, American billionaire Lincoln "Linc" Bartlett (Ben Masters) who arrives from California in his private jet, accompanied by his beautiful vice-president, Casey Tcholok (Deborah Raffin), with the apparent goal of closing a profitable deal with Dunross, a deal that would also benefit Struan's.

When Dunross realizes that Gornt is suddenly strong enough to take over the Noble House, he quickly reaches out to old friends (from Hong Kong, Macau and China) including opium lord "Four Finger" Wu Sang Fang (Khigh Dhiegh), in hope that they will help him raise enough capital to save the Noble House by buying its own stock.

All of the old friends, including Macau’s rich gold trader and casino owner Lando Mata (Damien Thomas) and Bank of China’s enigmatic contact Tip Tok-Toh (Keith Bonnard), discuss possible ways to help the Tai-pan, but most of them are willing to help only in exchange for significant influence on Struan’s, which the Tai-pan is very reticent about.

While all of this occurs, Dunross and Casey get close to each other very quickly and spontaneously, and later they develop strong feelings for each other (A visit to Macau marks the pinnacle of their personal affairs).

One of the subplots of the mini-series involves the missing half of an ancient coin, initially in the hands of its legitimate owner, Phillip Chen (who works directly for Dunross).

The Chinese government learns about this situation, and Tip Tok-Toh tells the Tai-pan that his childhood friend Tsu-Yan (Ric Young), now the Chairman of China Great Wall International Trust Corporation, would like to meet him in Beijing.

The Governor makes it clear that he considers Dunross’ statement blackmail, but it is implied that he also understands very well that Hong Kong really depends on China's financial support.

Going back to the main plot, interestingly, Orlanda and Wu’s mistress Venus Poon (Tia Carrere) both live in the Rose Court apartment building, where coincidently Dunross is attending a party, as well as Gornt and some of the most important Hong Kong’s businessmen.

Early next morning, just when it seemed that the fall of the Noble House was inevitable and a matter of hours, the Governor orders Brian's immediate release and safe passage to China.

Then Tip Tok-Toh tells Dunross that he has now access to the credit line granted by China Great Wall, and these funds allow him to foil Gornt's Machiavellian scheme.

Before the stock market opens in Hong Kong (with an expected high price of $30 per share of Struan’s, which would mean the demise of Gornt), he meets Dunross outside his mansion, and the Tai-pan tells him that he will let Gornt buy back the stock at $18 before the market opens, but he will also have to hand in the property of Asian Airlines to Struan's.

Later, Casey visits a very distressed Orlanda (the landslide took her beloved Bartlett and everything else from her), gives her a check she says is from Linc, and convinces her to go to the United States with her, where she would be able to pursue a new future.

At the end, we see Dunross looking at Hong Kong’s skyline from his mansion, suggesting he is ready for the next challenges the Noble House will face.

A significant story arc involving KGB espionage in Hong Kong was deleted as the mini-series aired near the close of the Cold War.

In the miniseries, Tip Tok-Toh was changed from a mysterious, unofficial contact of the Bank of China to a good friend of Dunross who often appeared at parties.

Although First Central and its vice-president, Dave Murtagh, a significant character in the novel, are mentioned in the mini-series, they play no role in bailing out the Noble House.

The Bank of China assumes this role in return for Dunross arranging the release of captured Chinese police mole, Brian Kwok.

Brosnan had signed to play James Bond, but was prevented from fulfilling the role because of his previous commitment to the Remington Steele television series, which went back into production.

Miniseries deals for King Rat and Whirlwind are riding on the success or failure of Noble House, which explains my current state of sweaty anticipation.