Robert Tronson

The 14-disc megaset contains all 42 episodes of the John Mortimer-written series that ran from 1978 to 1992, starring the irrepressible Leo McKern. Grumpy, aging London defense barrister Rumpole lives, apparently, for only one thing: the courtroom. Yes, of course he gets corporeal pleasures from his stinky, inexpensive cheroots and his cheap red wine, or the feeling of his crushed, battered fedora on his head. But these rather humble staples of life are offset by the truculent waspishness of show more his (mostly) disapproving wife, Hilda (Peggy Thorpe-Bates and Marion Mathie), who has been secretly dubbed by the fearful Rumpole with the H. Rider Haggard moniker, "She Who Must Be Obeyed." A "character" in the best sense of the word, with a simple credo ("Never plead guilty!"), Rumpole has zero respect for judges who hand down verdicts in their minds before their cases are even heard, or coppers who fabricate evidence, or even some of his clients, who attempt to use the wily defense barrister for their own convoluted scams.
After watching these 35+ hours, I found Rumpole of the Bailey to be an absolute delight, and one of my favorite shows.
My impression of the series has always been that it was a comedy, and certainly, by the later seasons, the sophisticated, satirical elements of Mortimer's scripting dominates. However, I was a little surprised at the more dramatic, sad and depressing aspects of the series. In Rumpole and the Learned Friends, he cops to the deepest existential angst, wondering who "he" really is. In Rumpole and the Married Lady, he discovers that he has very little reason to remain married to Hilda... show less

Part lawyer, part detective. But do not expect Rumpole to be a Perry Mason that wins every time, Rumpole may lose now and then and teach us a little about the real world. This series closely follows the feeling and the sarcasm of the written stories. I am sure you can say you know someone like the characters shown. More than the stories that do not leave you hanging are the comments that make the episodes interesting to watch.