John Glenister

Six plays, one for each of Henry VIII's wives. I was impressed by the author's ability to tell each story so succinctly -- the plays are quite short, but all the important facts are there, and they are also historically accurate.

Attempted to watch "Bloodline" (the one with Jeremy Brett in it), but it was too stupid to watch. This in spite of the fact that Jeremy Brett was looking great in his black period costume. Watched the Disraeli episode "Dizzy" as well. It was better, more political, more clever. Disraeli's interior decorating is enjoyable.

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

Two boys Michael and Joe become friends when Joe arrives at St. George's school in England as a refugee student. Both are Jewish but one has grown up in a middle class English home, while the other has grown up under the spectre of the growing Nazi movemement. Their friendship lasts beyond school when both find careers in film. When they both fall for the same girl they must decide if she is worth destroying their friendship over. (fonte: Imdb)