TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

House Of Cards : Complete BBC Series Trilogy Box Set [1990]


RRP: £34.99
Our Price: £12.62 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Political drama doesn't get more near the knuckle than Michael Dobbs' House of Cards trilogy, adapted for the screen by Andrew Davies and originally broadcast in the post-Thatcher years of the early 1990s. A splendid dissection of naked ambition, greed and rampant hypocrisy in the corridors of power, the original four-part series House of Cards documents in thrilling detail the rise of Tory Chief Whip Francis Urquhart (magnificent Ian Richardson), a man who likes to "put the stick about a bit" and has unwavering contempt for those with "no background, no bottom". With the downfall of Margaret Thatcher, a bitter internecine power struggle ensues within the Conservative Party. Urquhart schemes more devilishly than Iago to depose Thatcher's colourless John Major-style successor. And even Machiavelli would baulk at Urquhart's methods: any and every act--including murder--are legitimate as the end very much justifies the means. Idealistic journalist Matti Storin (Susannah Harker) becomes embroiled in Urquhart's nefarious plans (and ends up in his bed) as she attempts to question him about what's really going on: "You might think so, I couldn't possibly comment," is Urquhart's mantra of hypocrisy.

In To Play the King, the second part of the trilogy, we find our anti-hero comfortably installed as PM at No. 10 but facing a fresh challenge in the person of the newly crowned King (Michael Kitchen in a pitch-perfect Prince Charles impersonation), who wears his social conscience on his sleeve and publicly opposes Urquhart's hardline policies. With the help of political analyst and new mistress Sarah Harding (Kitty Aldridge), as well as that of his ambitious wife Elizabeth (Diane Fletcher), Urquhart is forced to resort to still more underhand plots. Then, in The Final Cut, we find Urquhart determined to last as long in office as Mrs Thatcher (whose statue, much to his chagrin, is about to be unveiled in front of his window). But ambitions to make a mark on the world stage, as well as his wife's desire to provide themselves a comfortable retirement nest egg, lead him into the choppy international waters of the Cyprus situation. The temptations of corrupt businessmen and his wife's goading might just have pushed Urquhart's luck too far this time.

Throughout, Richardson is a delight as the hypocritical, arrogant patrician who loathes the hoi polloi whose favour he must court at election time, and manipulates all his minions with a ruthless singlemindedness of purpose. However much a monster he seems, though, the viewer might just find themselves secretly admiring his determination and his lion-like strength of will: in contrast to many drab modern politicians, at least he knows what he wants, and makes sure he gets it. If it's strong leadership you want, Urquhart's your man.

On the DVD: The House of Cards trilogy has the three four-part series on three double-sided discs, with two hour-long episodes on each side of each disc. The first episodes come with a commentary from Andrew Davies and Ian Richardson, who share their memories and anecdotes. --Mark Walker


shakespeare lite
Review date: 2008-06-21 Rating: 8 out of 10

"FU" and "Mrs FU" are Richard III meets Lady Macbeth. Shakespearean-like intrigue, brutality and hunger for power are dressed here in pin-stipes and pants suits. Among this trilogy, I would rate "House of Cards" a 4, "To Play the King" 5 and "The Final Cut" 3. The acting and the witty dialogue are consistent points of strength (apart from the character of the media mogul in the first part). The storylines' occasional descent into improbability is the main weakness. On re-viewing, "To Play the King" stood out, essentially because Ian Richardson (the PM) and Michael Kitchen (the King) are well matched and the constitutional crisis provides a richer vein of story-making. The final part is seriously weakened by the half-baked "Cyprus Crisis" that has some stupendously silly elements. The additional commentary is three chaps (Richardson, Andrew Davies and the producer) having a natter - and provides the odd laugh.

Similar Products

Reviews


It doesn't get much better than this!
Review date: 2007-10-28 Rating: 10 out of 10

We watched this astonishing series over three white-knuckle days, drawn immediately into the corrupt, cynical, ambitious, frightening, murderous, elegant world of Francis Urqhuart as easily as flies drawn into a spider's web! This is so beautifully plotted, magnificently performed and brilliantly scripted that you run out of superlatives. It also has a marvellously intriguing ''alternative history'' feel that works really well because it evokes both the distant past--the trilogy is stuffed full of Jacobean allusions and atmosphere--but also the less distant past, like the post-Thatcher era, and the present. Political thrillers don't get much better than this!

What excellent drama !
Review date: 2007-10-28 Rating: 10 out of 10

This was very well written & the cast did a superb job of depicting the characters from the novel . It is pure Shakespeare the way that Urqhurt talks to the camera and despite how the fact he is so very wicked one cannot help but like this political survival artist . The late Ian Richardson certainly had his finest hour in this season with House of Cards & To Play The King being an interesting critique of the political class , the Royal Family ( more so in To Play The King ) and their relationship with the press barons . The editing is of a high standard and the theme tune catches the powerfull nature of the series admirably . The Final Cut while being above average as a drama is found wanting as it was never going to beat the first two in the trilogy in terms of quality and the stroyline is a bit fantastical and not as true to the novel as House Of Cards or To Play The King . Perhapes by the time The Final Cut was filmed we had all got a little too used to Francis Urqhurt and the threat he posed anyone who stood in his way . Be that as it may this is a fine bit of work from the BBC drama department and Ian Richardson steals the show without a doubt !

Good stuff
Review date: 2007-09-24 Rating: 8 out of 10

The first series, "House of Cards", traces Francis Urquhart's manipulative and murderous rise to power. It's a little superficial but very entertaining, with Ian Richardson's confiding asides to camera irresistibly turning the viewers into co-conspirators. (Much as he's great in this, I still think Richardson's finest hour was alongside Michael Elphick in "Private Schulz".)

The second series, "To Play The King", is the strongest for my money, building up a plausible constitutional confrontation between Urquhart PM and the King. Michael Kitchen is excellent as a fictionalised version of Prince/King Charles, and Colin Jeavons gets to sink his teeth into a role for once. There's a moral debate at the centre of this one that's powerful and boldly articulated.

The third series, "The Final Cut", is essentially more of the same, but less successful. All the players are too compromised to enable us to cheer or condemn one side. Urquhart's aide, Clare, is a crucial character, but so hedged in ambivalence that we get no clear sense of her motives. The denouement is a tad contrived and carries little moral force.

Nonetheless, it's good TV throughout. It's presented on 3 double-sided discs, each featuring 4 episodes of 45-60 minutes. The first episode in each series has a commentary; other than that there are no extras.

From the Bottom of the Deck!
Review date: 2007-07-17 Rating: 10 out of 10

What if Shakespeare's Lord and Lady Macbeth had been temporally transported into twenty-first century Britain? They would certainly be reincarnated into the insidious Francis Urquhart and his formidable spouse Elizabeth. In their new personae, 'MacUrquhart' would still be haunted by guilty visions but would shed any qualms about committing murder in the interests of power, and 'Lady MacUrquhart' would waste no more time sleepwalking but sustain her role as the actual but invisible control over the man with titular authority.

The "House of Cards Trilogy," which includes "To Play the King" and "Final Cut," not only portrays such a ghastly scenario, but also demonstrates the disastrous consequences for a post-modern Britain when such a pair first insinuates itself into a position of power and then seizes and maintains an unrelenting grip on that power, even if, in the final analysis, it has to provoke a bloody war to do so. Thanks to Andrew Davies' darkly comedic script, Ian Richardson's brilliant portrayal of Francis, and a splendid supporting cast, the viewer is locked in suspense and held in a state somewhere between laughing and cringing at the political shenanigans, too many of which resound with an uncomfortable ring of contemporary probability.

The humor derives from Richardson as Francis, who ruptures the invisible barrier between illusion and reality by taking the audience into his confidence. In "House of Cards" he does this with such wry wit that viewers are drawn easily into his thrall, so much so that despite their better natures and common sense, they find themselves liking and identifying with this charming unapologetic scoundrel. Somewhere in the middle of "To Play the King," however, they realize, to their increasing horror, that by sharing in his most intimate thoughts, they have actually become co-conspirators in the machinations of Urquhart, who in a literal blink of the eye transforms congeniality into the mesmerizing malevolence of a king cobra. By the time they have become absorbed in the plot of "Final Cut," they are inextricably tied to Urquhart's fate, as on a runaway train. Thus the scenario becomes metaphorical for the public's unfortunate propensity to be seduced by plausible but unscrupulous politicians who draw them into situations that they might not realize are unsupportable until it is too late. The repeated use in "To Play the King" of Urquhart's initials, F.U., illustrates this proposition.

The late Ian Richardson's ability to keep the audience enthralled in the destiny of this despicable rogue testifies to his incomparable subtlety as an actor, who will be sorely missed. The lynchpin of the tale, Richardson is amply supported by an ensemble cast, including Diane Fletcher as his horrific wife; Colin Jeavens as Tim Stamper, his `whip' who wields 'a bit of stick'; Nicholas Grace as Stamper's toadying successor, Geoffrey Booza-Pitt; and Nick Brimble as the sinister Corder. Among Urquhart's memorable victims are Michael Kitchen as the well-meaning king, Susanna Harker as the unstable Mattie Storrin, Kitty Aldrich as the altruistic Sarah, to name only a few. All characters in this cautionary tale are vulnerable to the enticements of power, even those who begin as honest idealists. When Corder informs the nobly motivated Tom Makepeace, who eventually succeeds Urquhart as leader of the party, that "we"--meaning Corder, Elizabeth, and the rest--are "right behind" him, one understands the story's message that all politicians, even those with the best of motives, are liable to being corrupted absolutely by the acquisition of absolute power.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
David Lyon
Nicholas Selby
Susannah Harker
James Villiers
Ian Richardson

Creators:
Ian Richardson (Primary Contributor)
Susannah Harker (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503145125
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 3
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-07-12
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 617 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1990
Language: English (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional