Rumpole of the Bailey TV Series on Blu Ray...when?!! (1 Viewer)

[Capt D McMars]

Another series in great need for a restoration and BD Boxset is the classic BBC series Rumpole of the Bailey with the might Leo McKern ~ I have the dvd set and even the original Pilot episod that featured another actress in the role of "She who must be obeyed". I love the fact that the writer for this series had always had McKern in mind while writting the Rumpole stories.
Not sure if Themes or Acorn own the series, maybe a BBC affiliate?

 

[Capt D McMars]

 

[Malcolm R]

BBC does not seem to be interested in blu ray releases for the most part. There are a number of series I'd repurchase in blu, but it seems unlikely to happen.

 

[Capt D McMars]

The wonderful cast and the writings so close to the books by John Mortimer. A true joy to watch.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Another series in great need for a restoration and BD Boxset is the classic BBC series Rumpole of the Bailey with the might Leo McKern ~ I have the dvd set and even the original Pilot episod that featured another actress in the role of "She who must be obeyed". I love the fact that the writer for this series had always had McKern in mind while writting the Rumpole stories.
Not sure if Themes or Acorn own the series, maybe a BBC affiliate?

Rumpole is a great series, Todd, but it's extremely unlikely to receive a Blu-Ray release. As mentioned by Malcolm above, unless it's Doctor Who-related, the BBC haven't been bothering much to put any of their classic series out on Blu-Ray. Also, Rumpole was mostly shot on videotape, so wouldn't particularly benefit by being restored for Blu-Ray, unlike other series that were shot on 16mm (like the Joan Hickson Miss Marple telefilms, which received Blu-Ray releases here in Region A, but not in the U.K.)

I'm afraid we'll just have to be satisfied with the many DVD releases Rumpole has received over the years. I believe it was A & E which released sets in the U.S. (and Fremantle in the U.K.)

 

[Capt D McMars]

Rumpole is a great series, Todd, but it's extremely unlikely to receive a Blu-Ray release. As mentioned by Malcolm above, unless it's Doctor Who-related, the BBC haven't been bothering much to put any of their classic series out on Blu-Ray. Also, Rumpole was mostly shot on videotape, so wouldn't particularly benefit by being restored for Blu-Ray, unlike other series that were shot on 16mm (like the Joan Hickson Miss Marple telefilms, which received Blu-Ray releases here in Region A, but not in the U.K.)

I'm afraid we'll just have to be satisfied with the many DVD releases Rumpole has received over the years. I believe it was A & E which released sets in the U.S. (and Fremantle in the U.K.)

In a perfect world, right? A ouple of other favorite series that most likely won't see the Blu ray Bump are Lovejoy and Monarch of the Glenn.

 

[Richard Kaufman]

A tragedy Rumpole won't receive a restoration and release on blu-ray. The series embodies much great humanity, and it is McKern's finest hour.

 

[Capt D McMars]

A tragedy Rumpole won't receive a restoration and release on blu-ray. The series embodies much great humanity, and it is McKern's finest hour.

I think it was wonderful that the author John Mortimer had Mckern on mind, while writing the character of Rumpole. And the intros to the episodes are wonderful!!

 

[GMBurns]

I purchased the Network (sniff, sniff) complete set when it came out in 2017. A total blast of a series.

 

[stuartfanning]

This series was made by Thames Television for the ITV network in the UK. Network, who released this on DVD, would have been the best chance of getting this on Blu-ray, but they have now gone out of business.

 

[ScottRE]

Wasn't this series videotaped like the usual BBC/Thames shows of the era? Would anything be gained by a high def release? I love a lot of those shows, like Blakes 7 and so on, but I can't imagine HD would add much...

 

[jayembee]

Wasn't this series videotaped like the usual BBC/Thames shows of the era? Would anything be gained by a high def release? I love a lot of those shows, like Blakes 7 and so on, but I can't imagine HD would add much...

According to IMDb -- salt to taste -- it was shot and printed on 35mm.

 

[ScottRE]

Looking at the YouTube vids I've seen, I question that. Also, it wasn't the BBC way.

DVD Talk

"Like many British shows of the period, Rumpole of the Bailey was shot with a combination of tape and film – 16mm for exteriors with studio interiors shot on video. The show looks about as well as one might expect. The tape sequences look as good as 1975 technology would allow, while the filmed material, ultimately transferred to tape as well for the show's master, looks grainy and dirty."

 

[jayembee]

Looking at the YouTube vids I've seen, I question that. Also, it wasn't the BBC way.

As Stuart said above, it wasn't a BBC show. Which doesn't mean it wasn't shot with a combo of 16mm and video., but...

Anyway, that's why I said "salt to taste".

 

[ScottRE]

As Stuart said above, it wasn't a BBC show. Which doesn't mean it wasn't shot with a combo of 16mm and video., but...

Anyway, that's why I said "salt to taste".

I stand corrected about the BBC but yeah the online videos show to be the same kinda filming style.

Which again makes me wonder what you'd get with a Hi-Def release.

 

[jayembee]

Depends on how well it gets mastered. There are several instances of British shows that have been up-rezzed to Blu-ray that look better than the earlier DVDs. The classic Doctor Who, for example. Among other ones I have on Blu-ray that look better than previous DVDs are:

 

[Richard Kaufman]

That blu of Quartermass and the Pit shown above is miles ahead of any other presentation, and in my opinion as good or better than the film. Andre Morrell is a superb Bernard Quartermass.

 

[Capt D McMars]

I stand corrected about the BBC but yeah the online videos show to be the same kinda filming style.

Which again makes me wonder what you'd get with a Hi-Def release.

The dubious quality of the vidoes online are subpar compaired to the dvd episodes. And with todays tech, whos to say what could be done to upgrade these, to a blu ray box set?

 

[ScottRE]

The dubious quality of the vidoes online are subpar compaired to the dvd episodes. And with todays tech, whos to say what could be done to upgrade these, to a blu ray box set?

I wasn't judging the series video quality based on YouTube, just confirming that it was mostly taped. The thing is, video tape is video tape. There is a maximum amount of resolution to be mined and it's a lot less than film. The Twilight Zone's video taped episodes still look terrible, there's diminishing returns after awhile. To be fair, I haven't seen the recent Classic Doctor Who blu rays, for all I know they worked wonders on them.

Look, I'm not wishing against you getting an HD release. I'm sure it would be something of an upgrade from the old A&E transfers.

 

[Lord Dalek]

BBC does not seem to be interested in blu ray releases for the most part. There are a number of series I'd repurchase in blu, but it seems unlikely to happen.

Not like it matters. Its Fremantle's show.