MovieChat Forums > Rumpole of the Bailey (1980) Discussion > Why does SWMBO address her husband

Why does SWMBO address her husband

posted 15 years ago by Venus-25
8 replies | jump to latest

...as "Rumpole" instead of "Horace"?

I just bought the entire series and I can't figure this out.

The Fabio Principle: Puffy shirts look best on men who look even better without them.

[–] mhansen2 15 years ago

Rumpole seems to prefer his last name. In the episode "Rumpole And The Blind Tasting," (season two) where we are introduced to "Mizz Liz Probert," she first calls him "Mister Rumpole" and he replies, "And you don't call me Mister Rumpole."

[–] goflorida10 14 years ago

I never thought about that before. Interesting question.

He tells everyone to call him Rumpole. Even Hilda's friend's, like Dodo McIntosh and Charming Nickels call him Rumpole.

His nephew by marriage does call him Uncle Horace when he's defending him in the Church of England court.

The Timson's call him Mr. Rumpole and so do some of the judges.

Is this your first time watching the set?

[–] Venus-25 14 years ago

For all intent and purposes. It's been much too long and I didn't previously see all of them.

The Fabio Principle: Puffy shirts look best on men who look even better without them.

[–] NutzieFagin 14 years ago

I always thought it was because--Hilda--who is kind of a staunch proper lady prefered the name Rumpole over Horace. Since she is somewhat like a drill sargent character, it may be her nature.

[–] willjohn 14 years ago

Hilda met Rumpole when he was her father's junior. As English Barristers tend to call each other by their surnames she probably goy used to her father calling him Rumpole and followed suit.

[–] vinsane 12 years ago

I was thinking exactly the same thing that willjohn wrote. She is simply following her daddy's set pattern in calling him Rumpole. This also has the knock-on effect of asserting her dominance over Rumpole as an inheritance from good old Daddy.

Eeek!!! I'm getting dressed.

[–] goflorida10 13 years ago

Now I think it's because she is the absolute ruler of Foxbury Mansions.

Rumple refers more to Hilda in the books that if she would have been born in different circumstances SHE would have held empires under her sway and her decisions are not to be questioned.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]