House of Cards - Jedes Kartenhaus zerbricht (DVD)

The American writer Reno Davis recently retired as a boxer. As an unemployed man in France, he meets Anne de Villemont, a widow, completely penniless. Attracted by Reno's serenity, Anne gets involved with him - the two become lovers. Reno notices that Anne is very afraid that her eight-year-old son could be kidnapped. He also learns that the family has contact with a fascist organization that plans to conquer all of Europe. Reno is accused of the murder of his best friend and, along with Anne, is targeted by the organization's manic planners. Together with Anne's eight-year-old son Paul, the two are chased all over France. The chase ends in the Colosseum in Rome, where the big showdown takes place.

John Guillermin's film is a rather complex conspiracy story in which the young George Peppard cuts an incredibly good figure as the hero against his will. The cynicism of his role is portrayed in a rousing way. Orson Welles is the eminence in the background who pulls all the strings and gives the film gravitas. "House of Cards" is perhaps the best Hitchcockian thriller that Hitchcock never made. Conclusion: There are no more films like this nowadays