The tagline for this three disc box set boasts of ‘a dark tale of greed, corruption and burning ambition’ and it certainly delivers. Based on the novels by Michael Dobbs, Baroness Thatcher’s former political adviser, The House of Cards Trilogy is a modern-day Macbeth and Richard III rolled into one.
The acclaimed trilogy (House of Cards, To Play the King and The Final Cut) focuses on Tory MP Francis Urquhart (portrayed brilliantly by Ian Richardson) as he intrigues against the PM Henry Collingridge and other government colleagues after being passed over for promotion. The award-winning House of Cards is the best offering of the trilogy, providing both an authentic and serious insight into what occurs inside the nation’s corridors of power. In respect to the former, this and the rest of the trilogy follows the examples set the political sitcoms Yes Minister, Yes Prime Minister and The New Statesman. If Baroness Thatcher is the Iron Lady, then Richardson’s Urquhart is the Man of Steel, who would have the measure of Jim Hacker, Sir Humphrey Appleby and Alan B’Stard. Richardson is also able to draw on the talented supporting casts from each series such as Susannah Harker (who portrayed the young Chronicle journalist Mattie Storin in the first series), Michael Kitchen (was is very convincing as the future George VII in To Play the King), Diane Fletcher (Urquhart’s Lady Macbeth-like wife) and Colin Jeavons (as Tim Stamper MP, Urquhart’s loyal henchman turned reluctant foe) amongst many others. To Play the King is the most controversial instalment of the trilogy, while The Final Cut is the dark finale. What makes all three parts so good above anything else though is how Richardson’s character confides in viewers with his insights and Machiavellian schemes to the point of both revelling in triumphs and feeling a slight sense of guilt for his crimes. The trilogy is complemented by a fitting and rousing orchestral score. As usual with most DVDs from the BBC, the special features are rather meagre with subtitles, episode and scene selections plus some interesting commentary for the first episode of each series by Richardson, screenwriter Andrew Davies and producer Ken Riddington. This box set is highly recommended and should be snapped up immediately while stocks last.
FROM: BBC
CERT: 15
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