Where Have all the Rumpole Fans Gone? - Rumpole of the Bailey (1980) Discussion

[–] steve-1241 14 years ago

I am still here. I got the box set for Christmas and am on series 2 already. This is a superb series and the writing of Mortimer is very clever and of course McKern as Rumpole is a work of genius. Have you got all the episodes???

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[–] mhansen2 14 years ago

I have the entire series in the three volume DVD set plus the "lost episode." The list of episodes is here

http://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0078680/episodes

but the volume one DVD set has an extra episode "Rumpole's Return."

Rumpole retires to Florida, at the urging of She Who Must Be Obeyed. He learns that Lord Rory Canter has been stabbed to death on a London subway platform and returns to the old Chambers-much to everyone's surprise.

There is a separate DVD, the lost episode, part of the "Play For Today" series, "Rumpole and the Confession of Guilt." This was from 1975, has an entirely different Hilda played by Joyce Heron. This may be the pilot.

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[–] goflorida10 14 years ago

At last! A new comment. Thanks steve-1241

Yes, I've had all the episodes for years now. When my mind is racing or I've had a difficult day it's the first movie that I'll escape to.

Enjoy your Christmas gift! :>)

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[–] opsbooks 14 years ago

We watched the complete series last year over a few weeks; top class entertainment. I've read some of the later, unfilmed books, and enjoyed them.

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[–] murdriggs 14 years ago

This Rumpole fan is still around. I read the books every two years or so and they are top notch. i do not own any of the TV series but am waiting for the box set to be available in Australia.

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[–] DrEinstein 14 years ago

I watched the Rumpole series on PBS (US Public Television) when I was young, and never for got it. Recently, I needed something to watch on my flights to and from Japan. I loaded up my netbook with the Rumpole series and forgot my discomfort in that tiny airline seat.

I am still watching them, in order, and I had to visit the IMDB to see what the fans have said.

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[–] zaphod67 14 years ago

I own every single episode, including the "Lost Episode" Rumpole and the Confession of Guilt. I think I've also managed to read every story, both the adaptations and the later writings.

Just started rewatching some of the episodes.

http://www.youtube.com/user/jimathers#p/u/3/j3FbO1ueZm4

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[–] goflorida10 13 years ago

I own all the episodes too and the books.

I'm interested to hear what you thought of the Lost Episode?

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[–] thewickermanuk 12 years ago

I'm a huge Rumpole fan here. Books and dramatisations. The characters are nothing short of those in Dickens. It's a shame not much of Mortimer's work is available on DVD (at affordable prices, might I add).

It wasn't a 'Lost Episode'. It just wasn't part of the series. It was shown separately as a one-off episode as part of the 'Play For Today'. It is available on DVD.

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[–] marktayloruk 11 years ago

Just treated myself to it on DVD. I sorely miss John Mortimer -used to correspond with him every time new Rumpole came out. Should have been given a peerage. Original Play for Today -Rumpole not yet fullyformed, not as likeable. His son seemed rightly bitter about having been sent to boarding school at seven -the only thing I have against Rumpole.

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[–] Principe_Manfredi 11 years ago

I am ardent fan. Whenever my time between jury trials grows to long, I begin watching Rumpole.

Cur. adv. vult.

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[–] jglapin 11 years ago

We are watching "Downton Abbey" like everyone else.

Seriously, having waded through DA, "Foyle's War" and then reprised "Tinker, Tailor, etc", I see a roundevouz with Hoarce and Hilda in the near future. I have not watched this series since the early 1980s so a revisit is in order.

This means posting. So I will see you around the bend, as we say here in the rural American west.

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[–] lawson14 10 years ago

The show has been relegated to the 11 pm slot on Tuesdays and it's worth staying up for. I have just finished tittering through "Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow." It's absolutely priceless.

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[–] lucyrfisher 10 years ago

I'm still here and just starting from the beginning (I think I missed series one). I've just reviewed Rumpole and the Honourable Member (think I've only just got the pun, too). Disturbing. And in a strange scene Mortimer tells us what a "Trotskyite" is. The girl's motivation remains a mystery.

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[–] jglapin 10 years ago

Since you are familiar with this series, what is the character name of Rumpole's father-in-law, the former head of Chambers? Other than "Dad", I mean.

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[–] lucyrfisher 10 years ago

Mr Wystan. (Doesn't he have some initials? C.H. Wystan? Hilda was Hilda Wystan.)

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[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lucyrfisher 10 years ago

Just started rereading it!

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[–] 10 years ago

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[–] greenegg 8 years ago

I can't believe I missed this thread before. I never missed a Rumpole episode during its original run on PBS. I purchased the series ages ago. I'm just enjoying my annual viewing with all the Equity Court folks, along with She Who Must Be Obeyed, the Timpsons, et. al. What utter delight, just as PBS keeps shoving the insipid Downton Abbey down our throats!

Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops! 

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