"Rumpole of the Bailey" (1978) TV series 1978-1992

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

12 February 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

The cases of a portly and eccentric criminal law barrister.

Plot Keywords:

Barrister | Judge | Courtroom | Court | Private Prosecutor

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 8 nominations

Cast

Leo McKern	...	Horace Rumpole (42 episodes, 1978-1992)
Jonathan Coy	...	Henry (37 episodes, 1978-1992)
Julian Curry	...	Claude Erskine-Brown (35 episodes, 1978-1992)
Marion Mathie	...	Hilda Rumpole (24 episodes, 1987-1992)
Richard Murdoch	...	Uncle Tom (23 episodes, 1978-1991)
Maureen Derbyshire	...	Dianne - Secretary / ... (23 episodes, 1978-1991)
Peter Blythe	...	Samuel 'Soapy Sam' Ballard, Q.C. / ... (22 episodes, 1983-1992)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Temple, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

Thames Television

Trivia:

Originally, author John Mortimer had Alistair Sim in mind to play Rumpole - until he found out Sim was dead.

Quotes:

Horace Rumpole: An Englishman's gin bottle is his castle!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Will & Grace: Fear and Clothing (#3.2)" (2000)

Delightful

I saw 16 or so episodes of this show a long time ago, but the memories of it are enduring. While the show's tone was humorous, the legal drama was as intense and as interesting as anything on American TV. Leo McKern's Rumpole is funny and charming, but with a serious sense of vocation underneath that Falstaffian bulk. He's been sort of a hero of mine ever since. I hope PBS will re-air this series, or BBC America will air the unedited, unabridged Rumpole in the not-too-distant future.