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

Directors:

Derek Bennett
Rodney Bennett
(more)

Seasons:

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

Release Date:

12 February 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The cases of a portly and eccentric criminal law barrister.

Plot Keywords:

Extramarital Affair | Courtroom | Diamond Nose Stud | Ecclesiastical Court | Legal Brief

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)

(more)

Series Directed by
Donald McWhinnie		(4 episodes, 1979-1987)
Robert Tronson		(4 episodes, 1991-1992)
Graham Evans		(3 episodes, 1978)
Herbert Wise		(3 episodes, 1978)
Roger Bamford		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Julian Amyes		(3 episodes, 1988-1991)
Robert Knights		(2 episodes, 1979-1983)
Brian Farnham		(2 episodes, 1979)
Martyn Friend		(2 episodes, 1987-1992)
Rodney Bennett		(2 episodes, 1987)
Mike Vardy		(2 episodes, 1988)
John Gorrie		(2 episodes, 1992)
Derek Bennett		(1 episode, 1979)
Peter Hammond		(1 episode, 1979)
Stuart Burge		(1 episode, 1983)
Bill Hays		(1 episode, 1983)
Tony Smith		(1 episode, 1983)
Jim Goddard		(1 episode, 1991)
Michael Simpson		(1 episode, 1991)
James Cellan Jones		(1 episode, 1992)

Series Writing credits
John Mortimer		(42 episodes, 1978-1992)

Series Produced by
Jacqueline Davis	....	producer (18 episodes, 1983-1992)
Lloyd Shirley	....	executive producer (12 episodes, 1987-1992)
Juliet Grimm	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1978)
Irene Shubik	....	producer (3 episodes, 1978)
David Ball	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1992)
Brian Walcroft	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Original Music by
Joseph Horovitz		(21 episodes, 1978-1992)

Series Cinematography by
Frank Hodge		(6 episodes, 1983)
Mike Hobbs		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Film Editing by
Trevor Waite		(5 episodes, 1983)
John Plummer		(3 episodes, 1978-1983)
Paul Trevor Bale		(unknown episodes)
Ray Ball		(unknown episodes)
Michael Johns		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Elizabeth Sadler		(13 episodes, 1983-1988)
Sue Whatmough		(3 episodes, 1978-1992)
Rebecca Howard		(2 episodes, 1978)
Sheila Trezise		(1 episode, 1978)
Julian Oldfield		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Bill Palmer		(18 episodes, 1983-1992)
Mike Hall		(3 episodes, 1978)
David Marshall		(3 episodes, 1978)
Ian Russell		(2 episodes, 1992)
Philip Blowers		(unknown episodes)
Peter Elliott		(unknown episodes)
Alan Hunter-Craig		(unknown episodes)
Gillian Miles		(unknown episodes)
David Richens		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Anne Salisbury		(2 episodes, 1978)
Laura Nightingale		(1 episode, 1978)
Diane Holmes		(1 episode, 1992)
Jennie Tate		(1 episode, 1992)
Caroline Middleton		(unknown episodes)
Caroline Rybolt		(unknown episodes)
Jill Silverside		(unknown episodes)
Frank Van Raay		(unknown episodes)
Louise Walker		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Angela Seyfang	....	makeup artist / makeup supervisor / ... (18 episodes, 1978-1992)
Pearl Rashbass	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1992)
Sally Thorpe	....	makeup supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Peter Ernster	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Downing	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1992)

Series Art Department
Rob Page	....	graphic designer / graphics / ... (18 episodes, 1978-1992)
David J. Wiles	....	production buyer (3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Ray Lee	....	production buyer (2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Adam Marshall	....	design assistant (2 episodes, 1992)
Ron Urquhart	....	production buyer (2 episodes, 1992)
Bill Orbell	....	production buyer (1 episode, 1988)
Andy Armstrong	....	props (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Brian Moray	....	sound (7 episodes, 1983-1988)
Dennis Whitlock	....	sound recordist / film sound recordist (6 episodes, 1983)
Ivan Ager	....	o.b. sound (5 episodes, 1987)
Freddie Slade	....	film dubbing mixer (4 episodes, 1983)
Peter Ball	....	sound (4 episodes, 1987-1988)
Brian Hibbert	....	sound / sound supervisor (3 episodes, 1978-1992)
Bill Rawcliffe	....	sound (3 episodes, 1987)
Richard Churchill	....	sound (3 episodes, 1988-1992)
Tony Morley	....	o.b. sound (3 episodes, 1988)
Mike Westlake	....	sound supervisor (2 episodes, 1978)
Terry Hill	....	film dubbing mixer (1 episode, 1983)
Dick Bradford	....	studio sound (unknown episodes)
Julian Ford	....	sound supervisor (unknown episodes)
Basil Rootes	....	film sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Peter Stoddart	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Peter Willcocks	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Casper Lailey	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes, 1990)
Ken Lailey	....	special effects supervisor (unknown episodes, 1990)

Series Stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunt arranger (1 episode, 1988)
Steve Dent	....	stunt driver (1 episode, 1991)
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1992)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Luigi Bottone	....	lighting / lighting director / ... (16 episodes, 1978-1992)
Mike Hobbs	....	o.b. camera operator / ob cameras (8 episodes, 1987-1988)
Chas Watts	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1983-1992)
Roy Easton	....	camera operator / senior camera operator (5 episodes, 1978-1988)
Andy Fraser	....	o.b. vision control / vision controller (5 episodes, 1987-1992)
Bill Marley	....	vision controller / video operator (4 episodes, 1978-1987)
Andy Andrews	....	lighting (3 episodes, 1987)
Peter Howell	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1987)
Mike Solomons	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1988)
Mike Fash	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1978)
Allan Jones	....	vision controller (2 episodes, 1983-1987)
John Darnell	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1983)
Bob Mason	....	vision controller (2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Allan James	....	vision controller (2 episodes, 1988)
Peter Coombs	....	senior camera operator (1 episode, 1978)
Paul Stripp	....	vision controller (1 episode, 1978)
Albert Almond	....	camera operator (1 episode, 1983)
Ian Coram	....	vision controller (1 episode, 1987)
Bob Newman	....	lighting (1 episode, 1988)
Adrian J. Fearnley	....	camera operator (1 episode, 1992)
Michael J. Davis	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Stuart Gain	....	lighting technician (unknown episodes)
Allen Harradine	....	vision controller (unknown episodes)
David Harvey	....	vision controller (unknown episodes)
Norman G. Langley	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Dudley Lovell	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Richard Waiting	....	vision controller (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Elizabeth Sadler	....	casting (2 episodes, 1988)
Stephanie Booth	....	casting assistant (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Caroline Rybolt	....	costumer (6 episodes, 1983-1987)
Richard Brown	....	costumer (5 episodes, 1987)
Louise Walker	....	costumer (3 episodes, 1983)
Caroline Middleton	....	costumer (3 episodes, 1988)
Mandy Harper	....	wardrobe supervisor (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Editorial Department
David Lewinton	....	editor: video tape (7 episodes, 1978-1992)
Martin Perrett	....	vision mixer (7 episodes, 1983-1992)
Nick Bigsby	....	vision mixer (4 episodes, 1978-1983)
Peter Phillips	....	vision mixer (4 episodes, 1987)
Thomas Kavanagh	....	video tape edotor / editor: video tape (3 episodes, 1983-1988)
Colin Bocking	....	editor: video tape / video-tape editor (3 episodes, 1983-1987)
Roger Holmes	....	editor: video tape / video tape edotor (3 episodes, 1983-1987)
Fred Turner	....	editor: video tape (2 episodes, 1978)
Grant Goodwin	....	editor: video tape (2 episodes, 1983-1987)
Bill Marley	....	vision control (2 episodes, 1983)
Nick Ames	....	editor: video tape / vision mixer (2 episodes, 1988)
Peter Boffin	....	vision mixer (1 episode, 1988)

Series Music Department
Joseph Horovitz	....	conductor (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Other crew
Michael Grieve	....	technical advisor (16 episodes, 1983-1992)
Shirley Cleghorn	....	stage manager (9 episodes, 1978-1988)
Del Randall	....	studio supervisor / operational supervisor (9 episodes, 1978-1988)
Ian Elsey	....	location supervisor / location manager (7 episodes, 1983-1988)
Julian Meers	....	floor manager (6 episodes, 1983-1987)
Vandra Edwards	....	stage manager (5 episodes, 1987-1992)
Dick Hibberd	....	studio supervisor (5 episodes, 1987-1988)
Tony Taylor	....	engineering manager (5 episodes, 1987)
Jill Watts	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1978-1992)
Barry Millar	....	location manager / location supervisor (4 episodes, 1978-1987)
John White-Jones	....	studio supervisor / operational supervisor (4 episodes, 1978-1983)
Denver Thornton	....	location supervisor (4 episodes, 1983-1987)
Kerry Mann	....	floor manager (4 episodes, 1987-1988)
Fizz Waters	....	floor manager (4 episodes, 1987-1988)
Peter Sampson	....	engine manager / engineering manager (4 episodes, 1988)
Peter Groome	....	floor manager (3 episodes, 1978)
Paddy Dewey	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1983-1988)
Mary Motture	....	stage manager (3 episodes, 1983-1987)
Ruth Parkhill	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1983-1987)
Sue Mahoney	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1978)
Isobel Neil	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1983-1987)
Cass Brown	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1983)
Phill Hill	....	floor manager (2 episodes, 1983)
Nigel J. Wilson	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1983)
Andy Fraser	....	ob vision control (2 episodes, 1987-1992)
Janice Brackenridge	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1988)
Keith Lund	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1988)
Karina Brewin	....	production coordinator (2 episodes, 1992)
Anne Shields	....	production accountant (2 episodes, 1992)
Mary Lewis	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1978)
Mary Douglass	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1983)
Chrissie Cocks	....	location manager (1 episode, 1992)
Pat Lees	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1992)
Garance Rawinsky	....	location manager (1 episode, 1992)
Brian Bilgorri	....	location supervisor (unknown episodes)
Sandy MacRae	....	film recordist (unknown episodes)
Eric Pavitt	....	location supervisor (unknown episodes)
Sue Pethybridge	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Peter Piddock	....	floor manager (unknown episodes)
Brian Rendle	....	film recordist (unknown episodes)
Dave Sparks	....	studio supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Thames Television (seasons 1-6)

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Temple, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

Thames Television

Trivia:

Rumpole has a penchant for giving literary or historical nicknames to friends and foes. His wife Hilda's moniker, "She Who Must Be Obeyed," was originally applied to the title character of H. Rider Haggard's novel "She," while Phyllida Trant Erskine-Brown's nickname, "Portia," is from William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice." Samuel Ballard is dubbed "Soapy Sam" after 'Bishop Samuel Wilberforce' (1805-73), now best remembered for debating Thomas Huxley over Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, but regarded in his own time as rather a slick operator. And he refers to Judge Graves as the "whited sepulchre"--a Biblical allusion (Matthew 27).

Quotes:

"Soapy" Sam Ballard: Rumpole as a client! God give me strength!
Hilda Rumpole: Oh, don't worry, Sam. If God doesn't, I certainly will.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Comedy Connections: To the Manor Born (#4.5)" (2006)

One of the most enjoyable characters ever!

Rumpole, a barrister spewing poetry and thunder and husband of She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, entertains with a unique style of oratory, wit, and his own particular slant on the world. In a world drowning in political correctness, Rumpole is a life saver. Rumpole is also one of my favorite of all time characters. The stories and supporting cast are refreshingly British and the entire series is an absolute delight! I'm so pleased this was finally released on dvd.