Rumpole of the Bailey (TV Series) Rumpole at Sea (1991) User Reviews

A Rumpole I've never seen before?

[lucyrfisher · 10/10 · 11 February 2019]

It's like finding the tomb of Tutankhamun! And it's a particularly good one. Hilda persuades Rumpole to come on a "second honeymoon" on a cruise to the Greek islands. (They'd had to come home early from their first honeymoon as they ran out of money.) Rumpole just wants a holiday from judge Graves. Whaddaya know? Judge Graves is on board, taking a holiday from Rumpole.

Rumpole lurks out of site, while Hilda dresses in her best and mingles at the cocktail parties. She quickly chums up with a mystery writer and his irritating personal assistant, and an insurance man turned vicar who has just got married.

They are all serenaded by a (surprisingly good) singer who belts out the golden oldies. Rumpole's cover is blown, and he comes out of hiding, but the newly wed Mrs Britwell develops a mysterious sickness and disappears from view. The mystery writer suspects the Rev of making away with her. He, Rumpole and Graves form an unlikely investigation committee.

Eventually Rumpole solves the mystery in an effective and somewhat surreal denouement, and the Rumpoles set off to shop in Mykonos.

PS Hilda looks stunning in fancy dress as Britannia, while Rumpole wears an eyepatch as a pirate.

Exquisite Rumpole

[michael-1151 · 10/10 · 15 August 2021]

Not quite Agatha Christie, when Rumpole and 'She who must be obeyed' take a second honeymoon on a cruise, his arch judicial opponent - or one of them - from the Bailey, Mr Justice Graves (funnily enough portrayed by a real Bailey, Robin) happens to be on the same cruise.

Both try avoiding each other in a suitably impish cat and mouse sequence, but when they ultimately - and inevitably - meet, they both get intrigued by an insurance salesman-cum-vicar whose wife, Mavis Britwell, is perennially ill and then disappears.

A detective writer, Howard Swainton, gets in on the act with various arch criminal theories about what has become of her before the somewhat rushed denouement, when Rumpole explains all.

Not quite Murder on the Orient Express, but good to see Horace has decent sea legs and a good memory, both essential for the plot. The talented ensemble play the various roles with a light touch, how much we miss wit on contemporary television having to make do with incessant cookery programs, when we can neither taste, nor judge the outcome.

This we can taste; succulent, tongue in cheek, witty and erudite - with a sad tale of a lobster consumed on the Rumpoles first honeymoon, a lesson for us all. Avoid rich food, if you want to properly enjoy the nuptials rather than recall them as a deep pain in the pit of your stomach.

Rumpole at Sea

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 2 December 2020]

Rumpole takes a holiday. Hilda persuades him to go on a second honeymoon with a cruise around southern Europe.

To Rumpole's horror Mr Justice Graves is also on board and both have a mutual loathing of each other.

Rumpole lies low and Hilda tells Rumpole that the vicar's wife in the next cabin has gone missing.

Crime writer Howard Swainton also on board suspects the vicar is not who he claims to be and foul play is involved. Graves is also alarmed by the behaviour of the vicar.

Well there was a courtroom scene at the beginning of the episode. A bail application that went awry for Rumpole. Graves was the judge.

I did like that both Graves and Rumpole tried to avoid each other in the ship. It was just too much to believe that Hilda would put up with Rumpole hiding in the cabin when it is their second honeymoon.

However I was not that enamoured by the main plot. Maybe John Mortimer could write good legal stories but he was no mystery writer.

The vicar was acting suspiciously but there was a good reason for it. He was trying to protect his new wife. Rumpole knew about her past but it seemed to rely on some coincidences that involved a cabaret singer.