Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersSundance Film FestivalIndependent Spirit AwardsBlack History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

House of Cards

  • TV Mini Series
  • 19901990
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 3h 46m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
15K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,226
52
House of Cards (1990)
The schemes of a ruthlessly ambitious British politician who will stop at nothing to get to the top.
Play trailer0:44
1 Video
38 Photos
Drama
The schemes of a ruthlessly ambitious British politician who will stop at nothing to get to the top.The schemes of a ruthlessly ambitious British politician who will stop at nothing to get to the top.The schemes of a ruthlessly ambitious British politician who will stop at nothing to get to the top.
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
15K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,226
52
  • Stars
    • Ian Richardson
    • Susannah Harker
    • Miles Anderson
  • Stars
    • Ian Richardson
    • Susannah Harker
    • Miles Anderson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 51User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy

    Episodes4

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    1991

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:44
    Watch Trailer

    Photos38

    Ian Richardson, Kenneth Gilbert, David Lyon, Christopher Owen, Nicholas Selby, Damien Thomas, and Malcolm Tierney in House of Cards (1990)
    Ian Richardson and Colin Jeavons in House of Cards (1990)
    Susannah Harker in House of Cards (1990)
    Ian Richardson in House of Cards (1990)
    House of Cards (1990)
    House of Cards (1990)
    House of Cards (1990)
    House of Cards (1990)
    Ian Richardson in House of Cards (1990)
    House of Cards (1990)
    House of Cards (1990)
    House of Cards (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • Francis Urquhart
    Susannah Harker
    Susannah Harker
    • Mattie Storin
    Miles Anderson
    Miles Anderson
    • Roger O'Neill
    Alphonsia Emmanuel
    • Penny Guy
    Malcolm Tierney
    Malcolm Tierney
    • Patrick Woolton
    Diane Fletcher
    Diane Fletcher
    • Elizabeth Urquhart
    Colin Jeavons
    Colin Jeavons
    • Tim Stamper
    Damien Thomas
    Damien Thomas
    • Michael Samuels
    William Chubb
    • John Krajewski
    Christopher Owen
    • McKenzie
    Kenneth Gilbert
    • Harold Earle
    David Lyon
    • Prime Minister Henry Collingridge
    Kenny Ireland
    Kenny Ireland
    • Ben Landless
    James Villiers
    James Villiers
    • Charles Collingridge
    Isabelle Amyes
    • Anne Collingridge
    John Hartley
    • Greville Preston
    Nicholas Selby
    Nicholas Selby
    • Lord Billsborough
    Tommy Boyle
    • Stephen Kendrick
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    To Play the King
    8.3
    To Play the King
    The Final Cut
    8.0
    The Final Cut
    House of Cards
    8.7
    House of Cards
    House of Cards
    2.0
    House of Cards
    Smiley's People
    8.5
    Smiley's People
    A Very British Coup
    8.2
    A Very British Coup
    House of Cards
    6.1
    House of Cards
    Yes Minister
    8.7
    Yes Minister
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    8.5
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
    Yes, Prime Minister
    8.6
    Yes, Prime Minister
    I, Claudius
    8.9
    I, Claudius
    Blackadder II
    8.6
    Blackadder II

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Francis Urquhart's catchphrase "You might very well think that; but I couldn't possibly comment" (meaning "Yes, but I'll deny everything if challenged") has become part of the English political language. "Urquhart's Avoidance" is as widely known as real-life political euphemisms such as "he wants to spend more time with his family" ("he's been sacked or resigned in disgrace") and "he's been economical with the truth" ("he's told blatant lies to save his own skin").
    • Quotes

      [repeated line]

      Francis Urquhart: You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1991)

    User reviews51

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    A fantastic series - entertaining, dark and relevant
    "House of Cards" is an entertaining and frightening tale. Ian Richardson, playing the intelligent and ruthless Francis Urquhart, immediately draws the viewer into the tale with his wry comments to the camera, discreet confidences just between the two of you, and compels you to accompany him as the tale moves from an amusing political fantasy to something altogether darker.

    The writing and acting is spot on (I must give kudos to Susannah Harker whose fine performance as Mattie Storin has, I think, been overlooked by many viewers), and the pace of the show doesn't slow until the final, shocking end.

    I am constantly recommending "House of Cards" to friends, to the point of hosting viewing parties at my place every few months, and I'm not tired of watching it, yet! :) I find that anyone who enjoys such pieces as "I, Claudius" or any other involuted, political drama, will enjoy "House of Cards".
    helpful•38
    4
    • Jomead
    • Jan 7, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 31, 1991 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Houses of Parliament, Westminster, Greater London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 3 hours 46 minutes
      • Color

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    House of Cards (1990)
    Top Gap
    By what name was House of Cards (1990) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page
    Add episode

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.