House of Cards (1968 film)
House of Cards | |
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![]() Poster for House of Cards (1969) | |
Directed by | John Guillermin |
Produced by |
Richard Berg (as Dick Berg) |
Written by |
Harriet Frank, Jr. (as James P. Bonner) Irving Ravetch (as James P. Bonner) |
Based on | Stanley Ellin |
Starring |
George Peppard Inger Stevens Orson Welles |
Music by | Francis Lai |
Cinematography | Piero Portalupi |
Edited by | J. Terry Williams |
Production company |
Westward Films |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
House of Cards is a 1969 Technicolor crime film directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard, Inger Stevens, and Orson Welles. Filmed in France and Italy, it marked the second time that Peppard and Guillermin worked together (they had previously collaborated on the 1966 film The Blue Max).
Plot
Reno Davis (George Peppard) is an American writer who has recently retired from boxing. Now unemployed and broke in France, he finds the wealthy widow of a French general. Anne de Villemont (Inger Stevens) is attracted to Reno's stoicism and they become lovers. She also hires him to tutor her eight-year-old son Paul (Barnaby Shaw).
Reno is led to believe Anne's husband was killed in the Algerian conflict and 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 (Keith Michell) and mysterious family friend Leschenhaut (Orson Welles), both of whom scare 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 the entire European continent. Reno and Anne are hunted and chased around France while protecting Paul from being abducted. The chase ends at the Coliseum in Rome, where Reno and the villains engage in a showdown.
Cast
- 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 coductor
Home media
This film has never been released in North America on VHS or DVD. It's been released on DVD in France (Bach Films, 2007),[1] Germany (Mondo Entertainment, 2009)[2] and Italy (Sinister Film, 2013).[3]