House of Cards Trilogy, Vol. 2 - To Play the King
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Colin Jeavons, Diane Fletcher, Ian Richardson, Kitty Aldridge, Michael KitchenBrand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 215 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-08-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: E1767
Studio: BBC Warner
Product features:
- Ian Richardson (From Hell, M. Butterfly) returns as villainous statesman Francis Urquhart in this acclaimed sequel to the Masterpiece Theater thriller House of Cards The sardonic statesman's Machiavellian schemes have brought him to the pinnacle of government, but at the moment of his triumph, an idealistic and determined young King stands in his way. How far will Urquhart go to maintain his g
Movie Reviews of House of Cards Trilogy, Vol. 2 - To Play the King
Movie Review: The king in check...
Summary: 5 Stars
The 'House of Cards' trilogy, 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
In the first installment, 'House of Cards', Francis Urqhart manages to becoming Prime Minister by masterful deceit and political intrigue, forcing Margaret Thatcher's inept but well-meaning successor into an early retirement with the unwitting help of a naive young journalist. Mattie Storin comes to the realisation she's been used, and threatens to expose Urqhart, who then throws her bodily off the roof of the House of Commons (not as strange as it sounds -- there really is a roof garden with tables and chairs, etc. up there). Off Urqhart goes to Buckingham Palace to be made Prime Minister, free and clear.
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 Storin has been replaced by Sarah Harding, who finds Urqhart is more than a match for her minor turncoating as well.
Kitchen's portrayal of a liberal but naive king is reminiscent of Prince Charles in the 1990s; there is a divorced wife very much in the manner of Diana (and this part doesn't play as well now given the subsequent history of the real Princess of Wales). Ultimately, the King gets too much embroiled in political intrigue, all the while insisting he is only doing what is right. In the end, the King, the King's advisors, Urqhart's advisors, and the party at large discover that Urqhart is more than a match for the lot of them.
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.
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.
Alas, Sarah Harding gets no such memorable lines from this installment of the trilogy.
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.
Summary of House of Cards Trilogy, Vol. 2 - To Play the King
Ian Richardson (From Hell M. Butterfly) returns as villainous statesman Francis Urquhart in this acclaimed sequel to the Masterpiece Theater thriller House of Cards The sardonic statesman's Machiavellian schemes have brought him to the pinnacle of government but at the moment of his triumph an idealistic and determined young King stands in his way. How far will Urquhart go to maintain his grip on his growing power? As he threatens to expose a royal scandal he seems unstoppable but someone out there knows the secret that could bring him down. Brilliantly adapted by Andrew Davies (The Tailor of Panama Bridget Jones's Diary) from Michael Dobbs's best-selling novel this satirical trilogy took home a primetime Emmy a Peabody two BAFTAs and a Writers' Guild Award.Running Time: 200 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 794051176721Similar DVD Movies
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