House of Cards Trilogy, Vol. 2 - To Play the King

House of Cards Trilogy, Vol. 2 - To Play the King
by Paul Seed

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 Kitchen
Director: Paul Seed
Brand: Warner Brothers
Cinematographer: Ian Punter
Cinematographer: Jim Fyans
Editor: Dave King
Producer: Ken Riddington
Producer: Nigel Taylor
Writer: Andrew Davies
Writer: Michael Dobbs
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 215 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-08-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Warner

Movie Reviews of House of Cards Trilogy, Vol. 2 - To Play the King

Movie Review: One of the top 5 evil villians.
Summary: 5 Stars

Ian Richardson's gleeful portrayal of Francis Urquhart embodies all the satirical ironies of the best villains. Think Hannibal Lecter, Heath Leger's "The Joker", put a wry and dry english sensibility to them, add the belief that his morality is for the greater good and there's Francis.

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.
In To Play the King, the second installment of this deliciously wicked political satire, Francis Urquhart (who rose to power in House of Cards) 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.

The king is troubled by the side effects of the prime minister's policies: homelessness, poverty, and an ever-widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. When he criticizes Urquhart in public, it becomes clear that the king must be dealt with, and quickly. Francis 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. A fat princess, the king's ex-wife, scandal-mongering newspapermen, and a kidnapping all play their part when Urquhart sets his plan in motion, but somebody very close to the prime minister has information that could destroy him.

With an Andrew 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. In Francis Urquhart, Davies and Richardson have created one of the screen's greatest villains, and his brazen scheming is a delight to watch. --Simon Leake

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