Rumpole of the Bailey and Tennyson's "Ulysses"

Rumpole (Leo McKern) recites from Tennyson's "Ulysses" at his retirement dinner in Rumpole of the Bailey episode "Rumpole and the Age For Retirement", 3 July 1979.

[@ianjohnson1920]

This programme was just GOLD.

[@johnclarkkennedy1556]

Back in the day when the audience were equal to the material.

[@ampzamp]

where is the episode where rumpole held up a glass of very poor claret at the pub, and said 'this horse is not fit for work?' - that is the most sophisticated comedy line I have ever seen delivered on TV.

[@terencewinters2154]

And though we are not now ....that strength that once moved heaven and earth 🤭🙃🤯🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕🌖🌗🌘🌙🌚🌛🌜🕰⏰⏱⌛⏲🥚🇬🇧🗄🗓🕧🕐🕜🕑🕝🕒🕞🕓🕟🕔🕠🕕🕡🕖🕢🕗🕣🕘🕤🕙🕥🕚🕦☁️⛅⛈🌤🌥🌦🌧🌨🌩🌪🌫🌬🌂☂️☔❄⚡😂🤣💂‍♂️💂‍♀️👍

[@UncleDansVintageVinyl]

I wish that McKern had read all of this great poem. He knew how to read Tennyson.

[@roddyteague6246]

So did John Thaw as Morse in Death is now my neighbour.

[@dimethylethyltritolu]

33 years later, rumpole's longevity extends on and on. perhaps his creator's works (john mortimer), can sustain themselves in the face of declining literacy and intellectual atrophy, for a long while yet. i would love to see them introduced to the young, fresh minds i am leaving behind now.

[@teflonmagnet]

Pure Rumpolean splendor!

[@fritula6200]

Leo McKern, a wonderful Australian.

[@terencewinters2154]

Another brave ulysses who listened to Cream in his youth.

[@rosebud3971]

"Tis not too late to seek a newer world, though much is taken, much abides and athough we are not now that strength which in old days moved heaven and earth, that which we are, we are" ...and not to yield"

[@anuranbhattacharya9938]

Frank Hodges It moves me from within....I always listen to it when I feel depressed or down

[@Playsinvain]

As is

[@linzynhs3747]

Brilliant.

[@johnp.sullivan6773]

The poem reads "Moved earth and heaven," thanks to Rumpole, I often say it backwards.

[@terencewinters2154]

To strive to seek to find and not to yield

[@qetoun]

Lawyers these days are half as good and thrice as dunk.

[@abatesnz]

Jrunck?

[@Gorboduc]

"Matched with an aged wife I mete and dole unequal laws unto a savage race that hoard and sleep and feed and know not me." "REALLY, Rumpole!"

[@busdriversprayer]

didn't retire... kept the clock

[@LordZontar]

Oh, Rumpole did retire for a time. He lost ten cases straight before his nemesis, Judge Roger Bullingham, and was convinced to pack it in. A murder involving a dotty religious cult and a pathetic defendant drew him back into practise ("Rumpole's Return").

[@abatesnz]

@@LordZontar In considering whether to come back, he could have recited: "How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!" And considering that murder case, could have read out: "Death closes all; but something ere the end, Some work of noble note, may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods."

[@terencewinters2154]

GMT 💷💶🧾