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IMDbPro

The Final Cut

  • TV Mini Series
  • 19951995
  • 3h 26m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
The Final Cut (1995)
  • Drama
Francis Urquhart is too experienced a politician not to know that everything must end, even his long career as British prime minister. In order to secure his retirement and establish monumen... Read allFrancis Urquhart is too experienced a politician not to know that everything must end, even his long career as British prime minister. In order to secure his retirement and establish monument to himself, he takes part in negotiations aimed at ending the Cyprus conflict. However, ... Read allFrancis Urquhart is too experienced a politician not to know that everything must end, even his long career as British prime minister. In order to secure his retirement and establish monument to himself, he takes part in negotiations aimed at ending the Cyprus conflict. However, that same island hides the secrets from Urquhart's youth - secrets that could destroy him.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Ian Richardson
    • Diane Fletcher
    • Paul Freeman
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Ian Richardson
    • Diane Fletcher
    • Paul Freeman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination total

    Episodes4

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    1996

    Photos12

    Ian Richardson, Isla Blair, and Nickolas Grace in The Final Cut (1995)
    Ian Richardson in The Final Cut (1995)
    Ian Richardson and Paul Freeman in The Final Cut (1995)
    Ian Richardson in The Final Cut (1995)
    Ian Richardson, Isla Blair, and Nickolas Grace in The Final Cut (1995)
    The Final Cut (1995)
    The Final Cut (1995)
    The Final Cut (1995)
    Ian Richardson in House of Cards (1990)
    The Final Cut (1995)
    The Final Cut (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • Francis Urquhartas Francis Urquhart
    4 episodes4 eps • 1995
    Diane Fletcher
    Diane Fletcher
    • Elizabeth Urquhartas Elizabeth Urquhart
    4 episodes4 eps • 1995
    Paul Freeman
    Paul Freeman
    • Tom Makepeaceas Tom Makepeace
    4 episodes4 eps • 1995
    Isla Blair
    Isla Blair
    • Claire Carlsenas Claire Carlsen
    4 episodes4 eps • 1995
    Nickolas Grace
    Nickolas Grace
    • Geoffrey Booza Pittas Geoffrey Booza Pitt
    4 episodes4 eps • 1995
    Glyn Grain
    • Rayneras Rayner
    4 episodes4 eps • 1995
    Nick Brimble
    Nick Brimble
    • Corderas Corder
    4 episodes4 eps • 1995
    Dorothy Vernon
    • Speakeras Speaker
    4 episodes4 eps • 1995
    Andrew Seear
    • Wolfinas Wolfin
    4 episodes4 eps • 1995
    Peter Symonds
    Peter Symonds
    • Polecuttas Polecutt
    4 episodes4 eps • 1995
    Yolanda Vazquez
    • Maria Passolidesas Maria Passolides
    3 episodes3 eps • 1995
    John Rowe
    John Rowe
    • Sir Clive Watlingas Sir Clive Watling
    3 episodes3 eps • 1995
    Duggie Brown
    • Joe Badgeras Joe Badger
    3 episodes3 eps • 1995
    Kevork Malikyan
    Kevork Malikyan
    • Nuresas Nures
    2 episodes2 eps • 1995
    David Ryall
    David Ryall
    • Sir Bruce Bullerbyas Sir Bruce Bullerby
    2 episodes2 eps • 1995
    Joseph Long
    Joseph Long
    • President Nicolaouas President Nicolaou
    2 episodes2 eps • 1995
    Cherith Mellor
    • Hilary Makepeaceas Hilary Makepeace
    2 episodes2 eps • 1995
    Erika Hoffman
    • Princessas Princess
    2 episodes2 eps • 1995
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Michael Dobbs, the author of the original book, was angered at the opening scene depicting Margaret Thatcher's funeral. As a result he demanded his name be removed from the credits which just say "Based on the novel The Final Cut" without mentioning his name.
    • Goofs
      When the security man at No. 10 enters the Urquharts' bedroom with his pistol drawn and at the ready, the gun actually has no live round in the chamber and is thus not ready to fire (we can tell this by the fact that the Glock's trigger is to the rear, which would not be the case if the action had been cycled to chamber a round).
    • Quotes

      [Prime Minister Urquhart is watching Makepeace being interviewed on television]

      Tom Makepeace: To quote the prime minister, "You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment."

      Francis Urquhart: You bastard!

    • Connections
      Edited into The Demon Headmaster: Episode #1.6 (1996)

    User reviews11

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Not a cut above, but cuts it just fine
    'House of Cards' is superlative. 'To Play the King' is great. The third series of the trilogy 'The Final Cut' (1995) may be the weakest of the three but is still very good.

    Everything that made 'House of Cards' and 'To Play the King' is here in 'The Final Cut' and work brilliantly. Unlike the previous two series however, a few parts veer on the improbable and the ending felt unsatisfying in its predictability and not having the punch or clarity of the ending of 'House of Cards' (the ending of 'To Play the King' was the weak link of that series but was more convincing than here). The previous two series are paced a little tighter too. Having said all this, the deviations from the source material again don't detract and the spirit and attention to character and mood detail are present.

    On the other hand, 'The Final Cut' visually looks wonderful, full of elegance and atmosphere in the design and class and style in the way it's filmed. It's also beautifully scored by Jim Parker with a very memorable main theme, and the direction lets the atmosphere and drama breathe but still never undermines the momentum.

    Andrew Davies once again also deserves a lot of the credit. The script has dry cynicism, sharp wit, dark bite and class, with some deservedly iconic lines that have since become part of popular culture. The nation's mood is brilliantly captured and the political elements are handled so truthfully and don't feel shoe-horned (it's actually essential here) or heavy-handed. The storytelling is mostly very absorbing, the depth and richness of the previous two series in the trilogy not lost.

    Ian Richardson is once again absolutely incredible in his best and most justifiably best known role, dominating the whole proceedings with ease. Diane Fletcher has a bigger role in 'The Final Cut' and again shows completely believability in a role that one doesn't see from her usually.

    Paul Freeman is especially good in support, which is mostly pretty solid apart from Nikolas Grace's sleaziness being more over-the-top than creepy.

    Overall, while the weakest of the three 'The Final Cut' still has a huge amount to enjoy, primarily Richardson. 8/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•3
    0
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Nov 20, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 4, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Greek
    • Also known as
      • Последняя Игра
    • Filming locations
      • Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • WGBH
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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