Trailer—House of Cards

House of Cards

What a flop. This show is a mega stinker. It starts off interesting enough with a murder victim floating in the river, and George Peppard getting knocked-out in a boxing match. Then, however, the film goes from interesting to stupid, dull, and boring. The plot isn't much and neither is the acting. The script tries to be witty, but there is nothing funny about it. The action scenes are without spark, and there aren't many sparks between Handsome George and his love interest Ingar Stevens. There are a few minor bright spots; George Peppard looks great and it's hard not to like his performance. Miss Stevens looks beautiful and sexy, and there are some nice views of Paris and Italy. Aside from that, the House of Cards is nothing more then a House of Dull.

After "House of secrets" and "Charade" set in Paris, here's "House of cards" directed by John Guillermin, set in Paris in the first part, then in Burgundy to finish in Italy. It's an entertaining fast paced chase of a determined American (excellent George Peppard) against rich organized fascists all over the world. It's a movie full of details with lot of weird characters, violent situations and a lost young boy in middle of this madness. And some apparitions of Orson Welles, wah the end. Nice discover, a blend of murder, violent plot, comedy and romance, as in a Hitchcock movie. But I find it under Charade, I think it lacks rhythm.

This is one of those films I have fond memories of from my childhood. I remember I used to tune it in every time it appeared on TV. Yes, now being an old fart and having finally seen it again after it's long absence, I was somewhat disappointed, but not entirely. There are still some wonderful things about it. Primarily the score by Frances Lai, the beautiful photography and scenery (it made me want to go to Paris for a long time), Orson Welles as the villain, but mostly the wonderful Inger Stevens as the female protagonist. What hasn't survived the test of time are the silly plot and George Peppard. I used to like him in his TV show (Banacek, NOT the A-Team), but then I heard an interview with Pat Neal which told about what a bastard he was in real life, and I can't find myself liking any of his performances now, even though I may like the movie. Anyway, I do still enjoy the movie, and am glad I was finally able to find it again.

I saw this movie with my dad when it first came out at the now long-gone Cinema Theater on Miami Beach. What I recall most about it was the rare beauty of Inger Stevens. What a beautiful, lovely, sexy, talented actress. It is really a sad state of affairs that her personal demons ended her life so young. I recall hearing about her death on the t.v. news and how I cried a few tears; even though I was a young child of 9. The movie is fast-paced, exciting, well-acted, and the Paris of the 1960s is in all it's glory. Unless this movie comes out on DVD, it will be lost to the ages. Most likely it's about forgotten, except for those lucky enough to have seen it. I even have the original movie poster of this film hanging on the wall of my apartment.