House of Cards Trilogy: The Original UK Series Remastered

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.

This is without a doubt, one of the very best dramatic series I have ever seen. Why on earth hasn't Masterpeice Theater replayed it? Given what PBS has recently gone through with its governing board and accusations of "liberal bias", perhaps it's understandable that they don't want to be seen to be criticizing our political masters, but the point has already been made. Why leave it up to mealy-mouthed special-effects fests like "Retread of the Sith", when works like this do so with so much more poise and precision? The House of Cards series combines superlative acting skills with pointed commentary on power, ambition and politics. Three great scripts (I disagree with those who say Part 3 was weaker than the others, but more on this below), and superb directing and acting make this the highlight of my summer viewing for sure. For US viewers, this series is as excellent as the Sopranos, and Homicide and for similar reasons (interesting characters, wonderful actors and compelling plot lines). *General spoiler alert* This series is many things to many people, but it is to my mind, first and foremost a Shakespearean drama. Screenwriter Andrew Davies makes this quite clear in his discussions of the series. To that end, the most important thing in the series is our villain and his arc from charming, ruthless monster to cornered animal. How sad that Ian Richardson hasn't been given the chance to display his incredible acting talents to a wider audience. His portrayl of the caiman-like Conservative politician Francis Urquhart captured the simultaneously mesmerizing and sheer evil quality of Urquhart beautifully (Richardson won a BAFTA in 1991 for House of Cards and was nominated again in 1993 for To Play the King, and again in 1996 for The Final Cut). Richardson's training in theater (he was with the Royal Shakespeare Company for 15 years) stand him in excellent stead here, but the most compelling pieces of acting he does are often expressed with no more than a glance at the camera, or a lifted eyebrow or corner of the mouth. The man's a genius in my humble opinion. House of Cards has had an interesting effect on political behavior in the UK in particular. The non-denial denial "You might say that... I couldn't possibly comment" that was one of Urquhart's favorite catchphrases has become established usage among British public figures, including then-Prime Minister John Major. It's also been acronymized for use in cyberspace as YMSTICPC. As a number of other people have pointed out, this series strongly evokes specific Shakespearean works, notably MacBeth, and Richard III. There are however, echoes of other tragedies as well, particularly King Lear (Urquhart's soliloquy on being "a father of daughters" for one, and the use of the "sharper than a serpent's tooth" quotation) and Titus Andronicus (F.U.'s ease with violence, and the black humor throughout the series) particularly in Part 3 (The Final Cut). I suppose if one wanted to play the "match the series with the play" game, Part 1 would be analogous to the first half of MacBeth, Part 2 to Richard (up to the Battle of Bosworth), and Part 3 would be Lear with Act V of Richard thrown in for good measure. Thus the supposed "weaknesses" in F.U.'s behavior in Part 3: his tendency to surround himself with weaklings, his descent into open violence, and his inability to "smell the mood" of his colleagues can in fact be better understood as classic Shakespearean indicators of the ruler who has finally lost his edge through age, hubris or paranoia (or some combination of all 3). Much has been made of Mrs. Urquhart's similarity to Lady MacBeth, but she's really more like the homicidal Goneril in "Lear": None of Lady M's weak-kneed descent into madness for her. In fact, the Tragedy of Francis Urquhart (apart from the mayhem he inflicts -indirectly depicted by the director for the most part, on the well-being of ordinary British people) might well be most clearly expressed in the treacherousness or self-servingness of those who surround him at the end. Some people believe that this series does not translate well for American audiences, my sense is that this is far from the case. Certainly some of the more subtle satire and the British cultural references might be lost, (such as the reference to the children's hand-puppet character Sooty - think Lamb Chop or Elmo as a stuffed bear) and it certainly helps to have a passing familiarity with British Parliamentary procedure (in particular the wonderful institution of "Prime Minister's Question Time"). Nevertheless these are minor details in the overall scheme of things. British politics has no monopoly on stupidity, manipulation or naked ambition. Viewers in other countries will have no trouble recognizing their own domestic versions of F.U., some perhaps in their own workplaces. Can we recognize this same behavior (admittedly with much less wit and sophistication) in some people in the current US administration? You might think that, you might very well think that, ... I couldn't possibly comment.

This UK series is clean, quick-witted, intense, elegant, sexy, sophisticated and entirely wicked. It's a stunning, if not wildly exaggerated, insight into British party politics and the party machine. It's too long a series - 3 discs & out of memory 12 episodes - to go into any critical review detail here but what I can say is that there isn't a single wasted moment in this highly entertaining series. It may be too subtle for some American audiences, but most will find it enthralling. Ian Richardson is perfect as Francis Urquhart (F.U) the British Prime Minister for most of the series and gives the role a Machiavellian soul that Spacey (U.S version recently released) cannot seem to find. Richardson is mischievous, highly intelligent, supremely wicked and almost entirely one or even two steps ahead of his rivals throughout. He also likes to 'put the stick about' roughing up his colleagues as he shapes the political landscape of Britain. Above all, which I cannot derive from the American series, you understand that F.U genuinely believes that what he does is for the good of the 'empire' and you cannot help but to be somewhat sympathetic towards his cause(s) - which is what makes for the best of villains - you love 'em & hate 'em simultaneously. better by far than the latest version but perhaps a trifle dated and with less production value (though for this series imperceptible). The latest version is slick, beautifully photographed and also well acted but it just lacks the voltage of this original version.

This is a superlative series, with ingenious plotting, writing that creates both bitingly funny lines and totally chilling situations and the most genuinely evil political couple ever to appear on screen. The late and much missed Ian Richardson is superb as Urquhart, letting the audience in on his wicked plans as he wrecks lives and careers with not a smidgeon of remorse. Just as unscrupulous, though less obviously so until the end of the trilogy, is Urquhart's wife Elizabeth, such a wonderfully understated performance by Diane Fletcher that you will find yourself going back through the set to check that she really did say or do what you thought she did. It's rare that brilliant writing is matched by equally magnificent acting, but that's what you'll find in this set. The ensemble cast is top-rate, especially Michael Kitchen, of Foyle's War, doing an immediately identifiable impersonation of a certain Royal figure in 'To Play The King'. The series is also fascinating for its behind-the-scenes glimpses into the workings of British Parliamentary democracy, so different from the American system. If you love intrigue, betrayal, and deliciously villainous political characters, this is simply the best series ever produced. Those who are offended by such things should note, however, that it does contain nudity and explicit sexual situations as well as some violence.

The three TV movies are full of great performances (from a great cast) and sinister intrigue. Sex, deception, murder, and all sorts of villainy littered throughout the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and even Number 10. Why not? The movies wouldn't be any fun if these films dealt out sins in small portions. As over the top as it is, it works and it's great to watch! "House of Cards" started as a single book, which became a very different miniseries. The intro with Francis Urquhart looking at a photo of Thatcher was apparently broadcast around the time she was voted out of office... a strange and eerie coincidence. I consider the TV version better than the book, however I did see it before I read it. Urquhart's sinister and devious charm help make the viewer admire him (in a strange way)... yet he's ruthless and cunning, and you love to hate him. Wait for the end... it yanked me up from my seat. It's a who-dun-it where you know who did it all along. The main character, Francis Urquhart, takes the audience into his confidence... you sometimes feel a little guilty knowing what's going on. If you get confused while watching Urquhart talk with various characters, just wait until they are off screen... F.U. will probably fill you in on what he *really* thinks. Take notes on who dies, how they die, and who does it... a grim game to play while watching the three miniseries. "To Play the King" might be more of the same from the previous book and TV movie (both are worth reading and viewing)... but, you can't really get enough of Urquhart. Plus, you get a slightly stronger impression that Elizabeth Urquhart has more to do with the life and politics of her husband. She's often referred to as the Lady MacBeth of this series (and not without reason). No more are the street shots of rats and sewers found in this series (a great theme in "House of Cards"), but now we see even more private lives and intrigue than before. This is a battle of wills: our boy F.U. against the newly crowned idealistic King of England. The King cares, he feels the pain of the country, he even seems to be sincerely motivated... but he's acting against the rules of conduct. You know who will come out on top, but to watch to see the other characters work in and out of their side of the war between Urquhart and the King. The royals, the advisors, the press, and public relations crew... they've all got a stake, and they're all pretty dirty. "The Final Cut" seems to have a lot crammed into it. The book is better... and again it's a bit different than the TV movie. That is not to say that the TV movie isn't worth viewing. Fans of Indiana Jones might recognize Tom Makepiece... the actor who portrays him (Paul Freeman) also played Belloc in "Raiders"... he also played Prof. Moriarty in "Without a Clue". Urquhart is getting old. His time is coming, but what about life after Number 10 for Francis and Elizabeth? For that matter, what about life after Number 10 at Number 10? Who can replace Urquhart? Francis might have enough cunning and will to beat the record of Margaret Thatcher's rule, but his past might catch up with him. Is it hard for Americans to follow British politics? Not really... it is very enjoyable, dark, and even funny. Some viewers might think this is a wicked commentary on conservative politics... you might think that. I'm sure plenty of folks would even say that. The author of the books (Michael Dobbs) worked for Thatcher. Maybe he's throwing stones at the Tories, or even any conservative politician. Yet, neither side of the political isle is safe. He's just spinning a great political yarn. Not everyone in politics has the makings of F.U., but it's fun to think so. Sir Ian Richardson's performance is truly fantastic... he's a genius. Susannah Harker is no slouch either. Diane Fletcher may not be seen or heard that often, but her character is as good as omnipresent. Look up the cast on IMDB... they are so many good performances I can't name them all. You've probably seen them on various British TV series and films. After all, there's a running joke among my friends that says there's only about 35 actors working for the BBC, so they all end up in the same shows. ;)

I love this miniseries. It was light years superior to American TV shows like The West Wing. This series portray politicians and political operatives to be the conniving, heartless, and manipulative bastards that they are. It's incredibly realistic, sarcastic, darkly hilarious, viscerally intelligent, and honest. There isn't a false moment in the whole thing. Francis Uckhart (F.U. as he is affectionately known) is a conservative MP who eventually becomes prime minister. He does through different machinations, such as flattery, cunning, blackmail (mostly), and occasionally murder. You don't really hate his character, because everyone else in the series is aiming for the same thing, and they are as nasty as he is. He's certainly the most charming and interesting of all the characters here, and it's to Ian Richardson's credit for giving such a great performance that you kind of like F.U., even though he's really a vile bastard at heart. But then, the world of politics is treated here like the morally ambiguous cesspool it is, instead of the idealized crap you get on The West Wing (one character, Stamper, even says it's like crawling through a tunnel of excrement). How many times do you hear characters on The West Wing give a variation of the "we don't get along. But let's put our personal differences aside and do what's best for the country."? What a pile of crap. Polticial operatives are some of the most unscrupulous and sadistic bastards on the planet. If they are starry idealists, they quickly disappear. They're there to obtain and consolidate power. Nothing else. And this series portrays that brilliantly. Kudos to the BBC and the British in general for putting out another brilliant miniseries...

The trilogy held my interest all the way through it. At first I was disappointed in the ending, then I found myself thinking about it and realized it did make an impact on me. The acting was great, storyline fascinating. and I would recommend it. It was remastered and was impressive. Had subtitles which I have to use sometimes so I appreciated that.

OUTSTANDING!! This series is a wonderful contrast to the US version. It too has a FU as the central character who plots, schemes, and even kills his way to the top. He talks to the audience and helps keep the plot going and the motive understood. I purchased the books before the series and found that they not only helped understand some of the subtle plot area, but were a great stand alone read. The show follows the books well. It is one of those series where you want to see what comes next and seem to always want to see the next hour. Good plots, good dialog, good acting, good visuals. While a British production, you can understand every word without problem. This is a GREAT Bargain because you get three full seasons and lots of episodes for the cost. Making the purchase lets you go back and watch as many times as you want or even share with other family members.

Da vedere assolutamente, sorprendente, cattiva, ironica e molto avanti per i tempi. L'attuale House of Cards è fantastica ma per me, British Do It Better. Always.

"You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment", c'est le gimmick de cette série britannique éblouissante menée par un acteur shakespearien de grande classe, Ian Richardson. Francis Urquhart, Chief Whip (une sorte de gardien du temple, celui qui ramène les députés dans le droit chemin au moment des votes, principalement) du Parti Conservateur, espère devenir ministre au sein du gouvernement tout juste formé après le départ de Margaret Thatcher. Ses espoirs sont déçus... mais Urquhart n'a pas dit son dernier mot, et sa vengeance sera terrible. Une machination diabolique se met en place, qui va mener Urquhart à la tête du gouvernement de Sa Gracieuse Majesté dans les 4 épisodes de la première saison. C'est absolument prenant, bien ficelé, intemporel quant au sujet, d'un cynisme sans bornes, délicieusement désuet dans sa description de l'époque (la première saison date de 1990...) Les deux saisons suivantes sont à mon sens un peu en dessous de la première, mais d'un très bon niveau quand même. On y suit un Urquhart devenu Premier Ministre qui ne veut pas lâcher le pouvoir avant d'avoir dépassé la longévité de Margaret Thatcher au 10 Downing Street. Il n'y a plus la fraîcheur de la première saison, avec ces jeunes idéalistes qui croyaient encore qu'en politique, on pouvait ne pas se salir les mains... Et puis, en démarrant le premier DVD, moi qui n'avais qu'une idée assez vague du scénario, j'ai été happée par ce générique, la "Francis Urquhart's march", courte marche militaire avec cuivres et percussion, qui colle si bien au sujet... Une remarque technique: le DVD que j'ai acheté était bien spécifié "import anglais" sur Amazon, mais il se trouve qu'il n'a que des sous-titres néerlandais! Alors c'est un peu "marche ou crève", donc j'ai amélioré mon anglais en regardant les DVD en VO intégrale. Il n'empêche que c''est une tromperie sur la marchandise, en tout cas pour le marché français (car la jaquette est aussi en néerlandais).

Never trust a politician... Watch this to see why.

Serie brillantísima de la BBC que ha servido de base para la serie del mismo nombre realizada por Netflix. Magníficamente interpretada. Todos los episodios de esta trilogía vienen en este pack..La presentación del producto es modesta pero por su precio no se puede pedir más. El único inconveniente que podría presentar es que no está doblada al español, y que tampoco dispone de subtítulos en español. En lo referente al servicio de entrega, no ha habido ningún problema. Para mí ha sido un acierto.

Once again, the Brits show how to create fantastic drama. This is such a well presented series, and while we've only watched parts 1 and 2, and the first episode of Part 3, it has not disappointed. The principal actor, Ian Richardson is outstanding in his role as the ruthless Prime Minister want-to-be! All supporting actors are absolutely first-class, and I can't wait to finish watching Part 3. I may be biased, but you can't beat the British television series for creating real-life drama in a well executed manner, with actors who portray their characters wonderfully. A must see and a real education into the British Parliamentary system - as well as an inside look at the Monarchy.