Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1743 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-07-12
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 617 minutes

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

DVD Description
Contains all three titles in the House of Cards trilogy: House of Cards, To Play the King and The Final Cut.

Starring Ian Richardson and Susannah Harker with David Lyon, Nichaolas Selby, James Villiers, Michael Kitchen, Kitty Aldridge, Colin Jeavons, Tom Beasley, Paul Freeman, Diane Fletcher and Isla Blair. Francis Urquhart is a politician seemingly without compassion or compunction who is determined to get to the top - and stay there. As this acclaimed trilogy follows the cunning drama and twists along the corridors of power, the nail-biting suspense intensifies …

Special Features

• Commentary on the first episode of each series with Ian Richardson, Andrew Davies and Ken Riddington

DVD Technical Information:

• Region Code: 2, 4
  
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  
• Audio: Stereo
  
• Running Time: 643 mins approx.
  
• Subtitles: English SDH

Customer Reviews

shakespeare lite
"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.

It doesn't get much better than this!
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 !
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 !