Rumpole of the Bailey (TV Series) Rumpole and the Married Lady (1978) User Reviews

"Rumpole of the Boudoir

[ygwerin1 · 9/10 · 20 February 2019]

Rumpole gets a change from crime with a divorce case as The Wife, with his fellow Chambers Barrister George Frobisher as The Husband. They take the Case and their parts in it very seriously, sparring over it at tea in Frobisher's hotel digs.

But Rumpole is forced to muse over the rising Divorce rate, with cause to wonder at Married life. Rumpole family life, "Sometimes I wonder why we keep all this going?" spake Hilda, of the Rumpole's Palacial Mansion. "Daddy was always in Chambers by 9am" Hilda moaning of Rumpole still being at home at that hour. Hilda again, "Daddy was always at Chambers until 6pm every day" Perhaps he did that to get away from his "She who must" and get time to do the Times Crossword in peace.

Marriage to Rumpole has not endeard him to Hilda, and she does not appreciate the Divorcee phoning him at home for advice at all hours. Such that she takes time out from their home life and "Your Harem", to help her best friend Dodo with her tea shop. Hilda can't resist leaving Rumpole with a passing barbed comment of, "You know Rumpole Dodo never liked you" which speaks volumes for Hilda's attitude to their married life.

Rumpole is assisted in his Divorce case by the Chambers keen new female Barrister Philida Trant, a former pupil of Erskine Brown.

Rumpole's next case is representing an owner of a Bawdy House, and Miss Trant gets the Brief for the Prosecution in the same case. She asks Rumpole for advice, of how much law should she take. He totally misleads her by saying "take a taxi full" and she is surprised to find he is the Defending Council. She learns a useful legal lesson in losing the case, to never trust Rumpole.

Rumpole and the Married Lady

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 2 June 2019]

We move on to 1975. Things are looking bleak for Rumpole. Not much in the way of crime has been coming his way. He would rather stay at home and complete the crossword than go to chambers which causes the ire of she who must be obeyed.

Rumpole reluctantly ends up taking a divorce case, well at least he will get paid. The client's husband, an accountant has not talked to her for three years and leaves notes behind. She is not happy with her husband' behaviour.

Rumpole's client Mrs Thripp rings Rumpole at home a few times, this causes Mrs Rumpole some concern. At least Mrs Thripp knows when to breakdown and cry in court which makes Rumpole happy as he hopes it will find favour with the judge. The divorce case turns out to be more messy than Rumpole anticipated.

Patricia Hodge makes her debut as junior barrister Phyllida Trant, the first female barrister that the chambers has taken on. She asks Rumpole on some advice about prosecuting a case, not aware that Rumpole is doing the defence. He pulls a fast one saying the judge likes full caselaw when he clearly does not.

Rumpole also displays remarkable knowledge of typewriters, gleaned from a fraud case he once conducted.

It is noticeable in this episode how female barristers were treated in the mid 1970s. Of course the number of females in the legal profession were far lower then. Rumpole gives Phyllida some counsel that it is not always having legal knowledge that counts.