House of Cards Trilogy (House of Cards / To Play the King / The Final Cut)
by Mike Vardy, Paul Seed
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Actor: Colin Jeavons, Diane Fletcher, Ian Richardson, Kitty Aldridge, Michael KitchenDirector: Mike Vardy, Paul Seed
Brand: Warner Brothers
Cinematographer: Ian Punter
Producer: Ken Riddington
Producer: Michael Wearing
Producer: Nigel Taylor
Writer: Andrew Davies
Writer: Michael Dobbs
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 640 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-08-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Warner
DVD Reviews of House of Cards Trilogy (House of Cards / To Play the King / The Final Cut)
DVD Review: Ruthlessness personified
Summary: 5 Stars
Cunning thy name is Francis Urquhart. Starting in House of Cards and going though Final Cut a portrait is presented of a man who is probably one of the most driven politicians in fictional history.
Urquhart is morally repulsive, manipulative and sometimes downright mean but his trials and tribulations are a treat to watch even if admittedly the ultimate resolution is somewhat unconvincing.
Overall-Sometimes you like to root for the bad guy and most of the time you feel just downright sorry for the opposition.
DVD Review: Life At The Top (And How I Got There)
Summary: 5 Stars
Ian Richardson plays Francis Urquhart, Chief Whip of British Paliament. The series covers F.U.'s rise to PM and his attempt to maintain his hold on power.
F.U.'s character is legendary. He's not exactly a sociopath, but let's just say it takes an incredible amount of manipulation to make it to the top in Parliament. F.U. breaks the "fourth wall" and talks directly to the audience in this series. His comments and observations are insightful and witty and everything the viewer wants to hear from this incredibly damaged but intelligent man. F.U. is an impeccable judge of character and has true genius for getting everyone around him to betray themselves. F.U. is a true "Machiavellian Prince" (The Prince). The scenes of banter in the House-the amazing oratory skills of the M.P.'s-are particularly good and worth paying attention to.
This is straight up one of the best TV programmes you'll see. Riveting and intriguing. Completely original. With only three three star reviews out of 77, it's clear the House of Cards is a winner.
If House of Cards inspires you, I'd recommend the very long but intriguing The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Penguin Classics) or the HBO series Rome - The Complete First Two Seasons. As wily as Parliament is, it doesn't hold a candle to the political intrigue of Rome.
DVD Review: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Summary: 5 Stars
BBC's HOUSE OF CARDS trilogy is one of the finest min-series ever produced for television. From the engaging story to the truly memorable acting of Ian Richardson and a superb cast of supporting actors, everything is first rate.The evil, Machiavellian British Prime Minister at the heart of the story is no different than the dastardly characters in Shakespeare as well as some of the most insidious politicos around today in any country. One of the chapters is called TO PLAY THE KING. Indeed, how many of us have been played by Francis Urquharts all around the world. A brilliant, engrossing tale and a cautionary one as well. Brilliant. DVD Review: House of Cards Trilogy
Summary: 4 Stars
Very entertaining series with interesting characters and surprises around every corner. Gave an insider's view of Parliament although I expect not a very real one. We enjoyed all of the views of London which is one of our favorite places to visit.DVD Review: Ah!! Memories
Summary: 5 Stars
Having seen the original series on BBC TV all those years ago, I had forgotten just how nasty a character is Francis Urquhart - FU to his friends - and how wonderful an actor is Ian Richardson. Nothing as good has been broadcast on any channel for many, many years. Buy and enjoy!!!
Description of House of Cards Trilogy (House of Cards / To Play the King / The Final Cut)
Ian Richardson (From Hell, M. Butterfly) leads an all star cast in this malevolent satire of greed, corruption and ambition in the highest realms of government. As Machiavellian monster Francis Urquhart, he schemes and backstabs his way to the top until he is standing on a pile of broken promises, betrayals and the bodies of those who oppose him. Every step of the way, Urquhart lays out his plans with horrifying wit and venomous charm. But the ranks of his enemies are growing, and they intend to bring him down, whatever the price. Brilliantly adapted by Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones's Diary), from Michael Dobbs's best-selling novel, this satirical trilogy took home a primetime Emmy, a Peabody, two BAFTAs and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award.Connoisseurs of political chicanery will relish House of Cards, the mordantly funny story of Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson), a British politician with his eye on the top job. Urquhart is the chief whip of the Conservative Party and his job is to maintain party discipline, or, as he likes to say, "put a bit of stick about." This means that he has intimate knowledge of his colleagues' foibles, knowledge that he uses to further his own political ambitions. Aided by his equally ruthless wife and drawing on a network of accomplices, Urquhart forces the prime minister to resign then sets out to discredit each of his rivals for the party leadership. Although it is strongly cast throughout, House of Cards belongs to Ian Richardson. Without his perfectly balanced performance, Urquhart might have become no more than a two-dimensional villain, but Richardson finds exactly the right tone to make his character as attractive as he is wicked. Thanks to Richardson, and a superb script by Andrew Davies, this brilliant political satire is sure to delight anyone who has wondered what might be going on in the darker corners of our democratic institutions.
In To Play the King, Urquhart appears to have everything he wants. He is the prime minister, he has no immediate rivals, and everyone who knows of his crimes is either on his side or dead. But a new challenge arises when the queen dies and the new king (Michael Kitchen doing a perfect Prince Charles) proves to be a thorn in Urquhart's side. Urquhart may be a staunch defender of the monarchy as a concept, but an individual sovereign is fair game if he proves to be a threat. With a Davies script that pokes fun at British politics and the antics of the royal family as well as a terrific cast led again by Ian Richardson, To Play the King maintains the high standard set by House of Cards.
The Final Cut, the last installment of the trilogy, strikes a more somber note than its predecessors. Urquhart has almost overtaken Margaret Thatcher to become Britain's longest serving postwar leader, but the public is tiring of him and there are rumblings of dissent in the Conservative Party. Urquhart and his wife plot to secure both their place in history and their financial future. Once again, writer Andrew Davies has created a satire to relish, one that confirms all of our doubts about the motives of politicians. Ian Richardson's wonderful performance--filled with sly asides and winks to the camera--makes Francis Urquhart as fascinating as he is wicked, and we find ourselves rooting for this terrible man. The world would certainly be a duller place without him. --Simon Leake
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