Rumpole of the Bailey, Set 3 - The Complete Seasons 5, 6 & 7 (1980)

The three final seasons of RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY- the standard-setting courtroom drama from the brilliant mind of Sir John Mortimer, based on his celebrated and best-selling books of the same name.

Opinionated and set in his ways, the portly and curmudgeonly Horace Rumpole powers forth in his daily quest for justice. Unfailingly disheveled and as fond of "plonk" as he is of the English language, the beloved barrister asks only one thing of the accused--never plead guilty. For it's only a matter of time before the unflagging Rumpole cuts through society's hypocrisies and gets to the truth--as well as the heart--of the matter.

A timeless mixture of comedy and drama, this 6-disc DVD set contains all 18 episodes broadcast during the fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons of RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY, adapted by Sir John Mortimer from his best-selling novels, and starring the esteemed Leo McKern (A Man for All Seasons).

A Must-Have

The final season of Rumpole are a must-have for fans of the series and quality British television in general. Leo McKern actually improved upon his spectacular performance in the title role as time passed; it's a pity he didn't do another series before his final retirement from the bar. The number of episodes and the joy they bring are a great bargain at this price. August 16, 2008

Rumpole never changes.

Rumpole says what he thinks and always seems to win his cases. He has the same personality in all of them. It is really an English Courtroom program, wigs and all. But he is really good. I do recommend the series. October 1, 2007

Enjoyed them all

I now own all three sets. I enjoyed them all, except I wish there had been more of Judge "The Bull" Bullingham. Watching Rumpole fence with "The Bull" was great! April 9, 2006

Rumpole is Now Complete

With the release of Rumpole of the Bailey, Set 3, the entire seven seasons of Rumpole of the Bailey are available on DVD. Set 3 includes seasons 5, 6, & 7. Loyal fans of Rumpole, She Who Must Be Obeyed, Soapy Sam Ballard, and all the other members of the Rumpole gang will not want to be without this set of DVDs. Rumpole never looked or sounded better. John Mortimer's words amuse and delight time after time. I cannot think of a better way to spend an evening. February 24, 2006

Rumpole For Eternity

Here are the (alas) final three seasons of Rumpole of the Bailey. Despite the fact that Leo McKern had been playing Horace Rumpole for over ten years, and that John Mortimer had been writing Rumpole stories for longer than that, these episodes are all fresh and funny. The usual suspects are all present, of course: She Who Must Be Obeyed, Soapy Sam, Miz Liz Probert (played by Abigail McKern, who provides some nice reminiscences of her father and of filming the Rumpole series) and sundry petty-criminal types like the Timsons.

Longtime Rumpole aficionados will wonder from time to time about some of the continuing questions of the series: Why does Phillida put up with her always-unsuccessfully-trying-to-philander husband Claude Erskine-Brown? Where do all these highly bred but incompetent barristers Soapy Sam keeps trying to make room at Equity Court by squeezing Rumpole into retirement for come from? (etc, etc,) We'll never get all the answers, but it will always be fun to watch and wonder.

The episodes in these last three series are usually set in and around London in various courts, but occasionally Rumpole goes further afield and tries cases in the shires. Once he even takes on a Prosecution! (He regrets it almost at once, of course.) The last episode is one of the best: when Rumpole gets in trouble yet again with Justice Oliphant and gets a complaint lodged against him that could result in his disbarment, She Who Must Be Obeyed and Miz Liz make common cause with Soapy Sam to save the day.

Although the seven series were filmed over a period from the late 70s to the early 90s, they remain timeless and undated, like Rumpole himself. What a wise decision John Mortimer made not to seek another actor to play Rumpole when Leo McKern retired! January 18, 2006

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