68 reviews

Format: Box Set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 3
Running Time: 640 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.6 x 1.9

MPN: WARDE1765D
ISBN: 0790777606
UPC: 794051176523
EAN: 9780790777603

Theatrical Release Date: October 8, 1996
Release Date: August 26, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 02/22/2005 Run time: 640 minutes Rating: Nr

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews: Read 63 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

House Of Cards Ian Richardson September 16, 2008
Sharon A. Cioffi
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

We could hardly wait to recieve this Video set.
We rented the first one from the Wallingford library and it had to be collected from a different library. It is a wonderful offering.

Sharon Cioffi

5 out of 5 stars

A pragmatic lesson in politics June 25, 2008
Federico Rubli Kaiser (MEXICO CITY,MEXICO)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

After many years of having been filmed, this trilogy remains a powerful lesson in pragmatic politics. In spite of his evilness, you end up admiring Frances Urkhart for his strategically political thinking, always geared towards pragmatism for achieving his very personal goals. Whoever or whatever stands in his way for reaching his objectives, he always finds a wat out-even if this means corruption and murder.
Definitely any young aspiring politician should watch the series, not for emulating Mr Urkhart, but for aquiring the knowledge of the intricating web of politics and interpersonal relationships that derive from it. A strong lesson in politics, indeed.
Extraordinary performances, very well filmed, and a truly close adaptation from the book.
Every two years I watch the trilogy, and every time I discover new aspects about the plot and complex personality of Mr Urkhart. What a political thriller!

5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful June 23, 2008
J. Clayton (Washington, DC)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is simply one of the best TV series ever made, and BBC has made lots of them. It is classy, sophisticated and hilarious.

5 out of 5 stars

Finally got to see the first 2 parts of the House of Cards Trilogy June 22, 2008
Barry Brown (San Francisco)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I had seen the final cut years ago and so I finally ordered the first 2 parts. They were equally delicious. FU is a singularly compelling villan. I think the word they use is reptilian. Heehee

3 out of 5 stars

charmingly capivating but not deep June 9, 2008
C. Wickers (New Zealand)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful

Charming movies but plot leans to transparent, very little political knowledge is not needed and the films can hardly could be called deep. Entertaining though, but not really a very thinking thriller, as some might've supposed. Acting is somewhat average, with the plot and acting best viewed with a sense of belief. Not a humourous film directly but charming, amusing, bit of a black comedy kind of thriller. Worth a watch, but not to be expect something of a mind strectcher.