House of Cards (1968 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = House of Cards

| caption = Poster for House of Cards (1969)

| image = House of Cards FilmPoster.jpeg

| director = John Guillermin

| producer = Richard Berg
(as Dick Berg)

| screenplay = Irving Ravetch
(as James P. Bonner)
Harriet Frank, Jr.
(as James P. Bonner)

| based_on = novel by Stanley Ellin

| starring = George Peppard
Inger Stevens
Orson Welles

| music = Francis Lai

| cinematography = Piero Portalupi

| editing = J. Terry Williams

| color_process = Technicolor

| studio = Westward Films

| distributor = Universal Pictures

| released = {{Film date|1968|11|18|UK|1969|09|14|US|df=y}}

| runtime = 105 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

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.).{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|title=John Guillermin: Action Man|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/john-guillermin-action-man/|date=17 November 2020}}

The film was first released in the United Kingdom in November 1968, but was not released in the United States until the following September.HOUSE OF CARDS

Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 35, Iss. 408, (Jan 1, 1968): 201.

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

{{castlist|

George Peppard as Reno Davis
Inger Stevens as Anne de Villemont
Orson Welles as Charles Leschenhaut
Keith Michell as Morillon
Maxine Audley as Mathilde Rosier
William Job as Bernard Bourdon
Peter Bayliss as Edmond Vosier
Patience Collier as Gabrielle de Villemont
Barnaby Shaw as Paul de Villemont
Ave Ninchi as Signora Braggi
Renzo Palmer as The Monk
Francesco Mulé as Trevi policeman
Rosemarie Dexter as Daniella Braggi
Raoul Delfosse as Louis Le Buc
Perrette Pradier as Jeanne-Marie
Geneviève Cluny as Veronique
James Mishler as Jesse Hardee
Jean Louis as Driot
Jacques Roux as Maguy
Jean Hébey as French conductor

}}

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.Darrid Named by M.C.A. To Head Literary Division New York Times 5 May 1966: 55.Virna Lisi Gets 'Hour' Role Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 9 May 1966: c21. By October 1966, the film had Dick Berg as producer and Irving and Harriet Ravetch as writers.MOVIE CALL SHEET: 7 Films on Continental Slate Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 13 Oct 1966: C17. The novel was issued in 1967. The Los Angeles Times called it "superb."Three Novels That Welcome a Rainy Day

Kirsch, Robert. Los Angeles Times 19 Feb 1967: p30

George Peppard was cast in July 1967.In the 'Cards' for Peppard

Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 21 July 1967: d12. Eva Renzi's casting was announced in August.James Fox to Play Churchill

Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 9 Aug 1967: e12. That same month, John Guillermin signed on to direct what would be his third film with Peppard.Film Contract for Reynolds

Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 7 Aug 1967: d28.{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|date=29 December 2024|access-date=29 December 2024|title=Movie Star Cold Streaks: George Peppard|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/movie-star-cold-streaks-george-peppard/}}

=Shooting=

Filming started in August 1967 in Paris. Shortly into filming, Renzi withdrew for personal reasons and was replaced by Inger Stevens.Saxon to Star in 'Singles' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 30 Aug 1967: d15. In September, the unit moved to Rome.'Isadora' Shooting Under Way

Los Angeles Times 7 Sep 1967: d20.A First-Hand Report on a Rome Movie Set's Bare Facts Kanin, Fay. Los Angeles Times 3 Dec 1967: d1.

During filming, Peppard joked that the film should be called The Running Jumping and Never Standing Still Film.Movies: Harbinger of Neo-Hitchcockian Melodrama

LaBADIE, DON. Los Angeles Times 29 Oct 1967: d12.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called House of Cards "a mildly diverting so-so adventure movie that could have been so much better."'House of Cards' in Citywide Engagement Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 19 Mar 1969: g19.

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),[https://www.amazon.fr/cri-dans-lombre-George-Peppard/dp/B000WTYROE/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1523137320&sr=1-1&keywords=un+cri+dans+l%27ombre Amazon.fr] Germany (Mondo Entertainment, 2009)[https://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Cards-English-without-subtitles/dp/B001L23L2U Amazon.uk] and Italy (Sinister Film, 2013).[https://www.amazon.it/Castello-Carte-Dvd-George-Peppard/dp/B00B76YK6Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1523137528&sr=1-1&keywords=house+of+cards+orson+welles Amazon.it] A Region B Blu-ray edition with audio commentary was released by Australian company Via Vision in 2021.[https://viavision.com.au/shop/house-of-cards/ Via Vision/Imprint Films]