5/5 Complete Rumpole of the Bailey
  by J. Claus (USA)
Very enjoyable English characters. I call this a comedy drama of the highest order. She who must be obeyed and Rumpole the wily old English barrister who quotes Shakespeare and other poets. Always with a witty remark that makes for a most delightful viewing experience.

5/5 My Friend Rumpole
  by Kevin Simpson (Florida USA)
When considering my review about this show there are items that would sound less than positive, like my feelings for the pompous Sam Ballard, who acts more like a modern day pharisee than a true Christain or the nagging wives and the womanizing barrister/judge. And then there is Rumpole himself who drinks too much, eats too much and smokes too much. When I first began the series I thought Rumpole to be a grumpy old man and I had to laugh the first time I saw John Mortimer with his huge Adam Ant glasses. But as I watched more I went from laughing at Rumpole and Mr. Mortimer, to laughing with them, to enjoying their company and finally to becoming friends. The stories are very well written and Leo McKern is a perfect Rumpole of the Bailey. I may not want to become like Rumpole or encourage my son to use him as a role model, but I would like to have him as my friend. By the end of the show you have a warm feeling for Rumpole and his creator and you have many fond memories. At first I questioned the high marks that others were awarding this show but now I echo them. If I knew Shakespeare better I would give an appropriate quote to summarize this review, but as it is, I will leave that to my friend Rumpole.

5/5 Fabulous series - Rumpole of the Bailey
  by C. W. DAVIS (Fort Walton Beach, FL)
SO glad I purchase this!

Leo McKern is perfect as the poetry quoting Old Bailey barrister, who is always on the defense and "Never pleads guilty!" Rumpole is also a detective for his clients being somewhat of an expert on blood stains... We also see his home life, with his wife who he refers to as "She who must be obeyed." This is also a fascinating look behind the British Legal system, its politics and history, wonderfully written by John Mortimer, who was a barrister himself. A true gem of British TV!

5/5 Pure Pleasure
  by steve b (Dudley England)
Horace Rumpole is a figure to set along side Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood in the pantheon of great British creations. Is it drama? Is it comedy? It is both and along side the great man are a host of entertaining supporting figures such as Hilda Rumpole (She who must be obeyed), Claude Erskine Brown, Judge Bullingham (The Bull), Philippa Erskine Brown (The Porta of Chambers), Uncle Tom (who having no legal work plays golf in the office) Soapey Sam Ballard and Gutherie Featherstone, as well as various members of the criminal Timson family. Above all there is Horace Rumpole lover of the fried English breakfast, steak and kidney pudding, spotted dick, cheap claret, small cigars and poetry. It is an articule of faith that his clients never plead guilty and that Horace, who as it is pionted out knows nothing about the law, can sway a jury. Sadly Horace does not always win even when his clients are innocent. The stories are good and set in an England that no longer exists indeed never existed in the first place, that is to say an England of ecentric lawyers and lovable criminals. However the real reason to watch this series is to see Horace Rumploe played by the late great Leo McKern, with cigar ash down his waistcoat, making a fool of the most pompous of judges. So good is McKern's performance in playing this most English of figures you forget that Leo McKern was in fact an Australian.

If you want watch somthing to reveal thr great truths of the world forget it. If you want a few hours of pure pleasure undamaged by swearing, farting and gruesome corpses then Rumpole is for you.

5/5 Rumpole's world is great
  by William M. Simmons (Somerset, PA USA)
I have watched and rewatched episodes of "Rumpole" -- loving them more and more as I watched. I even visited the Old Bailey when we went to England just to feel closer to Rumpole (along with having a glass of Rumpole's favorite wine at a pub). As you are introduced and get to know the Rumpole "family," each of the individuals become richer and add to the flavor of the shows. Each episode involves a legal story but also a tale about members of Rumpole's "family," involving "she who must be obeyed," his fellow lawyers, or his favorite criminals. I highly recommend this as a wonderful experience. Learn a lot about England's justice system, the legal system, and have a great time doing it.