Customer Reviews

House of Cards Trilogy

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wonderful adaptation of the Michael Dobbs "House of Cards" trilogy. Ian Richardson plays Francis Urquhart, Chief Whip of the Conservative Government, who schemes his way to Number Ten through blackmail, backroom deals, and sheer gall. The second volume, "To Play the King" shows Urquhart up against the newly crowned King (Michael Kitchen, who does a wonderful take on Prince Charles, really stealing the show) with Britain not big enough for the two of them. "The Final Cut" shows Urquhart hanging on against the wiles of the younger generation, while Diane Fletcher, as Urquhart's loyal, Lady-Macbeth-like wife, has her greatest acting moments.

Well cast, well directed, and with three thrilling political stories. However, this series would be nothing without Richardson, who amazes. Perhaps the best moments are when he breaches the fourth wall by talking to, or simply raising an eyebrow to, the viewer. While we could never approve of the things "F. U." does, it is hard not to love the character, as brought to full-color life by Richardson.

The only extra given on the DVDs, other than cast biographies, is a short BBC segment discussing the controversy over "To Play The King", or, to be more specific, over a line which some felt implied that the King used to send out for prostitutes (in context, it clearly does not, it implied he sent out for well-born ladies who would feel it their duty to come).

Each DVD contains four 50 minute episodes, so it is a good buy.

Recommended.

Ian Richardson, who is always superb, reaches his highest level yet with his portrayal of Francis Urquhart in this trilogy about the rise and fall of a British Prime Minister.

In House of Cards we meet Francis Urquhart (FU to his friends and enemies alike) as the Tory Chief Whip in a House of Commons led by a nice but ineffectual Conservative Prime Minister. At first FU seems to be giving us a friendly tour of the British governmental process with a sympathetic eye for the troubles of his PM, but then slowly but surely, he reveals the knives he proceeds to plunge into the backs of all his rivals. He's charming but brutally direct as he takes step after step, including a couple of murders, towards 10 Downing Street.

To Play The King is my favorite of the series. FU has to deal with an idealistic young king who disapproves of his hardline conservative policies. Even though we know FU will win in the end, we hope for his downfall while simultaneously cheering his audacity. FU is as charming as ever, even when he's at his vilest and most murderous.

The Final Cut is the weakest of the three because FU is more of a victim than a villain during most of it. At the end we are sorry to see FU go even while we are relieved that his murderous ways are at last at an end. And, most intriguingly, we see his successor, supposedly a reformer but possibly already taking on the FU mold. (Unfortunately no one seems to have considered carrying on the story by chronicling his successor's PMship.

An interesting footnote to this series has to do with the books they were based upon. Only the third series actually faithfully follows the book. In the first two series the books actually have FU coming to a well deserved end.

This is the most awesome political intrigue drama ever. You can read the description in the editor's note, so I won't go into the storyline. I first saw it on the BBC when it was aired in early nineties, but it is mostly unheard of in the US. But when I showed some of my friends, they emmidately baught the whole set, and also as presents for friends, everyone just LOVED it. Though utterly serious, its also hilarious, we'd rewind the movie and then go over again. Especially the functioning of the parliament is a little unknown here, so knowing some minor details will help. Though the sex part was a little obsecure, but one has to admit that "the most sexual part of the body is the brain". Also everyone will be in love with "You can surely think so, but I couldn't possibly comment". A must buy.

The Brits may no longer rule the world, but they sure produce some of the best television the medium has seen. In any discussions of the best projects or series in television history, this trilogy will have a place.

The series opens with Conservative Party Whip, Francis Urquhart, fondly holding a portrait of Margaret Thatcher, remarking that all things, no matter how good, must come to an end. This perfectly sets the time and tone of what is to follow. Urquhart must maneuver and control the political scene in the power vacuum left by the exit of the Iron Lady.

This production strives for Shakespearean proportions, and hits the bull's eye. The main character, Urquhart, played by Ian Richardson, is a crafty blend of Macbeth and King Richard. Like Macbeth, Urquhart has a power hungry wife gently messaging his shoulders and whispering pretty treacheries in his ear; and like Richard, Urquhart takes the viewer into his confidence, revealing his black plans with wicked joy. This technique of Urquhart speaking directly to you, the viewer, is a tremendous stroke. Like with King Richard, you will find yourself somehow cheering for this cold, angular blade of a man, as he slices through well-meaning fools and bumbling bullies alike (or, as Urquhart says, "put a bit of stick about").

A great production throughout, with wonderful writing and acting. Highly recommended. --Mykal Banta

Superb acting combined with great writing, make this trilogy one of the most outstanding pieces of political fiction to have ever come out of Great Britain. The main character - Francis Urquhart - is Machiavellian to the core, but ads a layer of complexity to his character that is Shakespearian to the end.

I've seen the entire trilogy 4 times (as well as read all 3 novels upon which the films are based), and I've not even begun to tire of it yet.

I came to this series blind, knowing only Ian Richardson's other work. In The Dark Origins of Sherlock Holmes and there he was stunning. Likewise here. It is more fun than you can imagine watching him do his dirty tricks and still keep you on his side all the way up to the very surprising ending. This is BBC at its best and television being the wonderful instrument it can be now and then. Don't hesitate here. Incidentally, the "Murder Rooms: The Dark Origins Of Sherlock Holmes," as it was known in its PBS 2-part May 2000 broadcast, has been released on DVD and is available here on Amazon, but has been renamed "Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle, The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes". Don't know if that was the original name or not.

This trilogy with Ian Richardson is excellent viewing with a good story line and a terrific cast of characters but no one is more compelling than Ian Richardson who plays the sly,ambitious and devious Francis Urquhart in this political masterpiece. It's a drama well worth the watching.

This British production - featuring Ian Richardson at his reptilian best as party whip, and later, Prime Minister Francis Urquhart - is superb.

This is British political drama at its best. Highly recommended.

British TV is famous for many things--Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, Yes (Prime) Minister, I, Claudius and so on. This incomparable trilogy deserves a seat in the front row of best Britain has produced--well written and acted, witty dialogue and a good pace in story development. The seamless delivery of black humor and drama make this series worth purchasing. The story lines are prescient, and Ian Richardson's "FU" is sinister yet human, and watching him transform from one form of ogre to another is addictive.

House of Cards, a BBC production done at the time of Margaret Thatcher's downfall, is one of the best modern political intrigue/satires done. The cast, the story, and the exacting attention to detail make this a piece worth watching and re-watching, to see what details escaped notice the first time.

The Plot
As the story opens, Thatcher has just resigned. There is a brief glimpse of an inner-party election for a new leader, and the moderate, middle candidate Henry Collingridge wins the post, and proceeds to barely win the next General Election. Almost immediately following this event, tempers begin to flare as Urqhart is denied the promotion he had sought, and is disgusted with Collingridge's 'politics as usual' stance.

Francis Urqhart, Conservative Party whip and functionary, with the unwitting assistance of a junior political reporter Mattie Storin, and the manipulated support of party functionary Roger O'Neill, sets out to undo the Prime Minister, involving the PM in scandals that rock his fragile majority and ever-loosening grip on power. Ultimately, Urqhart's schemes against Collingridge bring the PM down, and the stage is set for another leadership election.

Urqhart, at the urging of his wife Elizabeth, works toward the leadership and works toward solidifying the loyalties of his minions, who include the ruffian Tim Stamper, an associate whip in the Commons, and Benjamin Landless, a newspaper proprietor. However, it is in making Storin his bedroom partner and virtual worshipper that Urqhart has his strongest support; this support is not absolute, something he recognises. This relationship is done with the blessing, nay, with the urging, of his wife Elizabeth.

Urqhart uses his inside knowledge to make short work of all but the top contenders for the job, and then casts his lot for the job at the last moment, splitting the ticket. Knocking one contender against another one final time, Urqhart carries the election. However, O'Neill is unstable and unsure of the propriety of his dealings in bringing down Collingridge, and Storin realises at the last moment that she has been a pawn in a master political chess game. O'Neill's cocaine problem leads to his demise, as Urqhart plants poison in his drugs and permits O'Neill's nature to do him in. Storin discovers this murder plot, and confronts Urqhart, who confesses, but then proceeds to throw Mattie Storin bodily from the roof of the House of Commons.

But, there was a tape recorder running, setting the stage for the sequel...

`To Play the King' is the sequel, in which Urqhart matches forces against the newly installed King, played by Michael Kitchen. The King sees himself as the champion of the underdog and underclass Urqhart has abandoned, and it is a literal battle royale to the end. Storin has been replaced by Sarah Harding, who finds Urqhart is more than a match for her minor turncoating as well.

Finally, `The Final Cut' brings things full circle, as Urqhart beats Thatcher's record of unbroken days in office. However, his lust for power drives him into reckless foreign affairs, and his wife comes into her own with scheming beyond measure.

The Cast
Ian Richardson is masterful as Urqhart, the scheming blackheart Chief Whip/Prime Minister. His voice, his subtle inflections and tones are perfect for the subtext in the words he speaks. His sidewise glances and knowing expressions to camera as the action plays out is worth far more than any words. He is a perfect snobbish, upper-class politico who considers political office as patrician right, and despises pretenders to the role.

Diane Fletcher is superb as Elizabeth Urqhart, the equally manipulative wife. She is under utilised in this part of the trilogy, coming into her own as a character and an actress in later parts of the trilogy. One gets the strong sense of muted ambition and greed, but not amorality or power for power's sake from her, a distinction hard to play out on video. Fletcher succeeds beautifully.

Susannah Harker plays Mattie Storin, the troubled, intelligent and inexperienced journalist who falls for Urqhart. Her psychological instability and intelligence are played beautifully. Harker can make quite a statement just with the movements of her eyes, making her a good counterpoint to Richardson.

Miles Anderson plays the drug addict/party operative Roger O'Neill, doing a good job at playing the cad, the coward, and the fearful go-along with Urqhart's schemes. A rat trapped, O'Neill is at the breaking point, and Anderson plays this admirably.

Perhaps the best secondary roles were performed by Alphonsia Emmanuel, who plays O'Neill's assistant and lover Penny Guy, and James Villiers, who plays Charles Collingridge, the deposed Prime Minister's troubled brother. Their roles shine brilliantly despite the relative lack of screen time.

In the second series, Michael Kitchen as the King and Kitty Aldridge as Sarah Harding take primary roles, and Colin Jeavons as Stamper repeats his performance of the earlier episode, this time with much more panache. In the third series, Isla Blair as Claire Carlsen and Paul Freeman make a good show, if not altogether convincing as the final opponents for Urqhart.

One gets the impression that everyone in British politics is brilliant and troubled. Well, the truth would be about half that.

The Play's the Thing...
This production, in writing and execution, is full of Shakespearean nuances. There are indirect and direct references to Richard III, and Urqhart is a Machiavellian manipulator in the Duke of Gloucester's image, recast for modern dress and situation, complete with stage whispers and asides to audience. The depth of the characters, while still remaining caricatures, is fascinating. Perhaps the best-known line for a while was Urqhart's attempts to get information out to the journalist Storin without actually telling her, and being guilty (by the letter of the law) for leaks and disclosures. She would hint and speculate, at which Urqhart would reply, `You might very well think that. I of course couldn't possibly comment.'

John Major used this response in one of his own question-time exchanges, a use that was appreciated by the Members on both sides of the House.

Conclusions
For those who know nothing of British politics, this is actually a fascinating way to learn. For those who take an interest in British politics, this provides an intriguing fictional tale that is, in many ways, so close to reality on so many levels as to be positively unnerving.

Richardson rightly won BAFTA awards for his portrayal of Urqhart in each of the three installments, House of Cards and its sequels To Play the King and The Final Cut. These sequels were possibly only because of a BBC change to Dobbs' original manuscript, which had Urqhart rather than Storin falling from the rooftop garden of the House of Commons.

A bonus for the viewer.