House of Cards (1968 film)

Last updated
House of Cards
House of Cards FilmPoster.jpeg
Poster for House of Cards (1969)
Directed by John Guillermin
Screenplay by Irving Ravetch
(as James P. Bonner)
Harriet Frank, Jr.
(as James P. Bonner)
Based onnovel by Stanley Ellin
Produced byRichard Berg
(as Dick Berg)
Starring George Peppard
Inger Stevens
Orson Welles
Cinematography Piero Portalupi
Edited by J. Terry Williams
Music by Francis Lai
Color process Technicolor
Production
company
Westward Films
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates
  • 18 November 1968 (1968-11-18)(UK)
  • September 14, 1969 (1969-09-14)(US)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

House of Cards is a 1968 American neo-noir crime film directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard, Inger Stevens, and Orson Welles. Filmed in France and Italy, it marked the third time that Peppard and Guillermin worked together (they had previously collaborated on the 1966 film The Blue Max , then P.J. ). [1]

Contents

The film was first released in the United Kingdom in November 1968, but was not released in the United States until the following September. [2]

Plot

Reno Davis is an American writer who has recently retired from boxing. Now unemployed and broke in France, he encounters the wealthy widow of a French general. Anne de Villemont is attracted to Reno, and he to her, but she keeps him at arm's length. She also hires him to tutor her eight-year-old son Paul. The real reason she wants Reno is for protection.

Reno is led to believe that Anne's husband was killed in the Algerian conflict, and he is troubled by Anne's intense fear that Paul will be kidnapped. He then discovers the family has ties to a fascist organization that plans to take over all of Europe. He takes on the shady psychiatrist Morillon and mysterious family friend Leschenhaut, both of whom frighten Anne whenever they are around.

Reno is framed for his best friend's murder as he and Anne become the targets of the ambitious and maniacal schemers who wish to rule Europe. Reno and Anne are hunted around France while protecting Paul from being abducted. The chase ends at the Colosseum in Rome, where Reno and the villains engage in a showdown.

Cast

Production

The film was based on a novel by Stanley Ellin. In May 1966, before the novel had been published, Universal announced that it would produce a film adaptation. [3] [4] By October 1966, the film had Dick Berg as producer and Irving and Harriet Ravetch as writers. [5] The novel was issued in 1967. The Los Angeles Times called it "superb." [6]

George Peppard was cast in July 1967. [7] Eva Renzi's casting was announced in August. [8] That same month, John Guillermin signed on to direct what would be his third film with Peppard. [9]

Shooting

Filming started in August 1967 in Paris. Shortly into filming, Renzi withdrew for personal reasons and was replaced by Inger Stevens. [10] In September, the unit moved to Rome. [11] [12]

During filming, Peppard joked that the film should be called The Running Jumping and Never Standing Still Film. [13]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called House of Cards "a mildly diverting so-so adventure movie that could have been so much better." [14]

Home media

This film has never been released in North America on VHS or DVD, though it has been released on DVD in France (Bach Films, 2007), [15] Germany (Mondo Entertainment, 2009) [16] and Italy (Sinister Film, 2013). [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Peppard</span> American actor (1928–1994)

George Peppard was an American actor. He secured a major role as struggling writer Paul Varjak when he starred alongside Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), and later portrayed a character based on Howard Hughes in The Carpetbaggers (1964). On television, he played the title role of millionaire insurance investigator and sleuth Thomas Banacek in the early-1970s mystery series Banacek. He played Col. John "Hannibal" Smith, the cigar-smoking leader of a renegade commando squad in the 1980s action television series The A-Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inger Stevens</span> Swedish-American actress (1934–1970)

Inger Stevens was a Swedish-American film, stage and Golden Globe–winning television actress.

<i>The Blue Max</i> 1966 British film by John Guillermin

The Blue Max is a 1966 war film directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard, James Mason, Ursula Andress, Karl Michael Vogler, and Jeremy Kemp. The film was made in DeLuxe Color and was one of the last movies filmed in CinemaScope. It was filmed entirely in Ireland, and included numerous location scenes shot in Dublin, Wickow and Cork. The plot is about a German fighter pilot on the Western Front during World War I. The screenplay was written by David Pursall, Jack Seddon, and Gerald Hanley, based on the novel of the same name by Jack D. Hunter as adapted by Ben Barzman and Basilio Franchina.

<i>Dont Make Waves</i> 1967 film by Alexander Mackendrick

Don't Make Waves is a 1967 American sex comedy starring Tony Curtis, Claudia Cardinale, Dave Draper and Sharon Tate. Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film was directed by Alexander Mackendrick and is based on the 1959 novel Muscle Beach by Ira Wallach, who also co-wrote the screenplay.

<i>The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini</i> 1966 film by Don Weis

Ghost in the Invisible Bikini is a 1966 American fantasy comedy film. It is the seventh and last of American International Pictures' beach party films. The film features the cast cavorting in and around a haunted house and the adjacent swimming pool.

<i>Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!</i> 1966 film by George Marshall

Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! is a 1966 DeLuxe Color American comedy film starring Bob Hope and Elke Sommer. This film marked the first of three film collaborations for Hope and comedian Phyllis Diller, and was followed by Eight on the Lam in 1967 and The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell in 1968.

<i>The Power</i> (1968 film) 1968 American science fiction film directed by Byron Haskin

The Power is a 1968 American tech noir, science fiction thriller film from MGM, produced by George Pal, directed by Byron Haskin, that stars George Hamilton and Suzanne Pleshette. It is based on the 1956 science fiction novel The Power by Frank M. Robinson.

<i>The Pink Jungle</i> 1968 film by Delbert Mann

The Pink Jungle is a 1968 American adventure comedy film directed by Delbert Mann starring James Garner, Eva Renzi, George Kennedy and Nigel Green.

<i>The Chairman</i> (1969 film) 1969 film by J. Lee Thompson

The Chairman is a 1969 spy film starring Gregory Peck. It was directed by J. Lee Thompson. The screenplay was by Ben Maddow based on a novel by Jay Richard Kennedy.

<i>Rapture</i> (1965 film) 1965 French film by John Guillermin

Rapture is a 1965 drama film directed by John Guillermin, and starring Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Gozzi, and Dean Stockwell. It is reportedly Guillermin's own favorite among his films. His widow Mary said it "was the only film he directed that wholly satisfied his vision as an artist."

<i>P.J.</i> (film) 1968 film by John Guillermin

P.J. is a 1968 American neo-noir mystery film directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard.

<i>When the Boys Meet the Girls</i> (film) 1965 film

When the Boys Meet the Girls is a 1965 American musical film directed by Alvin Ganzer and starring Connie Francis and Harve Presnell based on the musical Girl Crazy and a remake of MGM's 1943 film Girl Crazy.

<i>A Time for Killing</i> 1967 film by Roger Corman, Phil Karlson

A Time for Killing is a 1967 Western film directed originally by Roger Corman but finished by Phil Karlson. Filmed in Panavision and Pathécolor, it stars Glenn Ford, George Hamilton, Inger Stevens, and Harrison Ford in his first credited film role.

<i>One More Train to Rob</i> 1971 film

One More Train to Rob is a 1971 American comedy western film directed by Andrew McLaglen, starring George Peppard, and featuring Diana Muldaur, John Vernon and France Nuyen.

<i>Adams Woman</i> 1970 film

Adam's Woman is a 1970 Australian-American historical drama film directed by Philip Leacock and starring Beau Bridges, Jane Merrow and John Mills. It has been called a "convict Western".

<i>Hammerhead</i> (film) 1968 British spy thriller film by David Miller

Hammerhead is a 1968 British Eurospy thriller film directed by David Miller and starring Vince Edwards, Judy Geeson and Diana Dors. Its plot concerns a criminal mastermind who attempts to steal NATO secrets, with an American agent hot on his trail. It is based on the 1964 novel of the same title by English novelist James Mayo, and produced by Irving Allen and written by Herbert Baker, who made the Matt Helm films for Columbia Pictures. It was filmed in London and Portugal.

<i>Pursuit</i> (1972 American film) 1972 American TV series or program

Pursuit is a 1972 American made-for-television drama film that screened on the ABC network as an ABC Movie of the Week. It was Michael Crichton's first work as a director, though his theatrical directorial debut would not premiere until the following year. It is based on Crichton's 1972 novel Binary, which he published under the pseudonym John Lange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Guillermin</span> French-British film director, writer and producer (1925–2015)

John Guillermin was a French-British film director, writer and producer who was most active in big-budget, action-adventure films throughout his lengthy career.

<i>Doctor, Youve Got to Be Kidding!</i> 1967 film by Peter Tewksbury

Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding! is a 1967 American comedy film directed by Peter Tewksbury and starring Sandra Dee, George Hamilton and Celeste Holm.

<i>A Time to Sing</i> (film) 1968 film by Arthur Dreifuss

A Time to Sing is a 1968 American drama film directed by Arthur Dreifuss and starring Hank Williams Jr. and Shelley Fabares. The film was originally known as The Hank Williams Jr Story. It was Fabares' fourth film for MGM.

References

  1. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (17 November 2020). "John Guillermin: Action Man". Filmink.
  2. ↑ HOUSE OF CARDS Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 35, Iss. 408, (Jan 1, 1968): 201.
  3. ↑ Darrid Named by M.C.A. To Head Literary Division New York Times 5 May 1966: 55.
  4. ↑ Virna Lisi Gets 'Hour' Role Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 9 May 1966: c21.
  5. ↑ MOVIE CALL SHEET: 7 Films on Continental Slate Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 13 Oct 1966: C17.
  6. ↑ Three Novels That Welcome a Rainy Day Kirsch, Robert. Los Angeles Times 19 Feb 1967: p30
  7. ↑ In the 'Cards' for Peppard Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 21 July 1967: d12.
  8. ↑ James Fox to Play Churchill Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 9 Aug 1967: e12.
  9. ↑ Film Contract for Reynolds Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 7 Aug 1967: d28.
  10. ↑ Saxon to Star in 'Singles' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 30 Aug 1967: d15.
  11. ↑ 'Isadora' Shooting Under Way Los Angeles Times 7 Sep 1967: d20.
  12. ↑ A First-Hand Report on a Rome Movie Set's Bare Facts Kanin, Fay. Los Angeles Times 3 Dec 1967: d1.
  13. ↑ Movies: Harbinger of Neo-Hitchcockian Melodrama LaBADIE, DON. Los Angeles Times 29 Oct 1967: d12.
  14. ↑ 'House of Cards' in Citywide Engagement Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 19 Mar 1969: g19.
  15. ↑ Amazon.fr
  16. ↑ Amazon.uk
  17. ↑ Amazon.it
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.