Rating: 
Summary: A Refreshing Change
Review: The episodes presented here are a welcome change from the high-voltage intensity of American crime dramas and a fitting tribute to Leo McKern, a great actor who is sorely missed. Viewers will be rewarded by the subtlety, wit and loving details that one notices on repeated viewings.Having not seen the early episodes, I enjoyed watching the affectionate and somewhat bittersweet relationship between Rumpole and his son Nick, when he chooses not to follow in his father's footsteps and leaves for the USA with his American wife -- whom Rumpole has managed to alienate through his defence in a rape case. The other characters are wonderfully realized. It's hard to pick favorites, but among mine are Peter Bowles as the vain, self-important Guthrie Featherstone QC MP, and Peter Blythe as Samuel 'Soapy Sam Ballard (aka Bollard), Featherstone's hapless successor as head of chambers (and Rumpole's foil). Regular viewers will enjoy observing how the characters changed over the arc of the series, such as the evolution of Marigold Featherstone (wonderfully played by Joanna Van Gyseghem) from a bouyant, naive young woman married to a barrister on the way up to a cynical, disappointed and somewhat shrewish wife in middle age.
Rating:
Summary: A Refreshing Change
Review: The episodes presented here are a welcome change from the high-voltage intensity of American crime dramas and a fitting tribute to Leo McKern, a great actor who is sorely missed. Having not seen the early episodes, I enjoyed watching the affectionate and somewhat bittersweet relationship between Rumpole and his son Nick, when he chooses not to follow in his father's footsteps and leaves for the USA with his American wife -- whom Rumpole has managed to alienate through his defence in a rape case. Regular viewers will enjoy observing how the characters changed over the arc of the series, such as the evolution of Marigold Featherstone from a bouyant young woman married to a barrister on the way up to a cynical and disappointed middle aged wife.
Rating: 
Summary: "All Rise For This Honorable Court"
Review: There must be a hallowed place in heaven for barristers the likes of Horace Rumpole. A creation of author John Mortimer, Rumpole plies his craft in London's Old Bailey Criminal Court as the barrister of choice for all sorts of wayward characters charged with a variety of sins. An original PBS series from the 1970's, Leo McKern plays the barrister with distinction. The supporting cast includes Rumpole's wife Hilda "affectionately" referred to as "She Who Must Be Obeyed." While Rumpole's firm, i.e. his Chambers, disdains criminal clients, Rumpole, the senior member who yearns for a good cross examination, has made a career for himself toiling away in the Old Bailey. This boxed set includes the first two seasons of the series in the order in which they were shown making it easy to follow Rumpole's travails in court, in Chambers and in his personal life. There will be a big demand for the remainder of the series to be finally put on DVD after this success.
Rumpole is humorous, irreverent and traditional. Rumpole's character is a tribute to those defense lawyers both in the UK and in the colonies who stand between their clients and the government to ensure that justice is done. While Rumpole would disdain being a role model, this series was the catalyst for so many courtroom dramas on the tube today. I suspect that Rumpole's creator wanted to and did set the bar high for future performances for those who earn a living being and acting as trial lawyers.
Rating:
Summary: Rumpole Forever!
Review: This DVD set contains the full episodes of Seasons 1 and 2 of Rumpole, and also has as a bonus the single episode Rumpole's Return. These date from the late 1970s and early 1980s but don't seem out of date at all. The first season's shows are all dated with the year they supposedly occured, starting with 1967 and going on until 1977. The characters all age appropriately and incidentally provide a good record of changes in British fashion. (All except Rumpole, who always dresses the same.) Rumpole is an embarrassment to his chambers in Equity Court because he won't get rid of his old hat and won't give up representing petty criminals, who bring down the tone of the place, according to some of the snootier barristers. He is likewise exasperating to his longsuffering and loving wife Hilda (She Who Must Be Obeyed). Rumpole is fully aware that he aggravates everyone around him and delights in doing so. It is this cheerful bullheadedness that makes Rumpole so charming, and makes this set of videos a real treasure.
Rating:
Summary: You must buy this DVD!
Review: This wonderful DVD collection has four DVDs containing thirteen episodes of Rumpole of the Bailey. These episodes are: 1) Rumpole and the Younger Generation, 2) Rumpole and the Alternative Society, 3) Rumpole and the Honourable Member, 4) Rumpole and the Married Lady (a personal favorite), 5) Rumpole and the Learned Friends, 6) Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade, 7) Rumpole and the Man of God, 8) Rumpole and the Case of Identity, 9) Rumpole and the Show Folk, 10) Rumpole and the Fascist Beast, 11) Rumpole and the Course of True Love, 12) Rumpole and the Age For Retirement, and 13) Rumpole's Return. The first twelve episodes in the DVD collection are all one-hour long, while the thirteenth (Rumpole's Return) is a wonderful two-hour special. For those of you who are not familiar with Rumpole: Horace Rumpole (expertly played by Leo McKern) is an old-fashioned English Barrister. Standing against those (on the Left *and* on the Right) who would trample the rights of the common man, Rumpole uses his wits and eloquence to free his clients and protect those who are targeted. The stories are humorous and yet intellectually stimulating, and the characters are ably played by a group of expert actors who make the story come alive! I would highly recommend this DVD collection to the already committed Rumpole fan, and to those who simply like good British drama. The shows are wonderful, and the DVD contains so much that I am surprised that it costs so little. You must buy this DVD!
Rating:
Summary: The original Law and Order
Review: Those fascinated by legal story telling, but have missed Rumpole of the Bailey, will no doubt find this series a treat. As in much of drama series television, the British did it first (and better). Humor abounds, which alone makes the purchase a bargain. Audio and technical leave something to be desired but nothing your remote volume control can't handle. The series is addictive, and will leave you wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: Rumpole--- Witty, Wise, Wonderful!
Review: Without doubt, real people have written "Horace Rumpole" pleading with him to take their case. The late Leo McKern's portrayal of Rumpole is that vivid and that satisfying. The BBC series (13 episodes offered here) closely based on the beloved stories by John Mortimer, revolves around the personal and professional life of the brusque, cynical, yet affectionate barrister. He's one of those rare individuals who has so found his proper element that it's impossible to imagine that he could have become anything else. There's a symbiosis between Rumpole being so comfortable in his own skin and McKern's absorption into the role that's fascinating. McKern's Rumpole is surrounded by an array of eccentric, lovable (and not so lovable) characters who are all the more real because they are never hackneyed or one dimentional. Rumpole's villians and heroes, his compeers and his co-workers are all admixtures of flattering and unflattering characteristics. That's what makes the portrayals so attractive and memorable. The same is true of Rumpole. The 'Old Bailey Hack' wins spectacularly at times, and truly is a genuis of sorts, a fact only grudgingly recognized by those around him since he oft' times loses his cases, and is not without human foibles. Indeed, his greatest victories seem to have been in years long past. Rumpole is constantly reminding his detractors that he won the famous "Penge Bungalow" murder case "alone and without a leader".
Although the series is ostensibly in the crime/mystery genre, it deftly and humorously touches on many subjects; unrequited love, class prejudice, the regrets of old age, the nature of friendship and of marital happiness, just to mention a few. The mystery element stands on its own to be sure, but you remember the characters and the relationships long after you've forgotten the plot lines. Mentioning just a few, there's the distinguished Head of Chambers Guthrie Fetherston, at times pompous, even unctuous, whom Rumpole regards with disguised affection; George Frobisher, Rumpole's dear old friend who's such a poor barrister that "he can't even ask for court costs without writing it down in advance". Then there's "She who must be obeyed", Rumpole's overbearing and long suffering wife, not, as it turns out, his first choice as a mate. Rumpole loves them as much for their short-commings as for their better qualities. If you enjoy television without large doses of violence or crudity, and maybe read a poem every now and then (Rumpole is often described as 'poetry spouting') this series is definately for you. It's wise, but never heavy-laden or preachy; quite humorous but not mean-spirited. I highly recommend it!
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