“The Rebel” was meant to be TV’s first teenage western. The series was created as a response to “Rebel Without A Cause” while also making use of the Johnny Yuma story. Basically, Nick Adams plays the titular character and ventures around the West telling and collecting stories. Each week offers up a new town and a new tale. To make the character play the younger folk, The Rebel always used his fists in major fights.
The Johnny Yuma character was meant to be an assassin that wanted to kill General Grant. Yet, he hears Grant’s compassion for the Southern people and is pushed not to kill him. The misunderstood hitchhiking young man fit a type that worked for the era, but might be troublesome for modern young people. Still, they should like a mopey young guy that journals about everything and has a distaste for war. It’s just the dude probably has the Battle Flag in his saddlebags.
The DVD comes with featurettes, production stills gallery, commercials and a pilot for the companion series as the special features. The A/V Quality is stunning for a 55 year old show. The transfer is sharp and the Mono track is crisp. Classic Westerns have a limited appeal to modern audiences. However, you should take a chance and give it a watch.
Release Date: 8/18/15