“Bored
with his mundane life
working as a clerk in a London office
and convinced he is talented enough
to be the next Vincent van Gogh,
a frustrated artist moves to Paris to
prove to the world that his paintings
are the new ‘infantile art’.
But fame and fortune come at a price
as he takes an opportunity to shine
by deception in the highly amusing
comedy The Rebel...”
DELUDED FRUSTRATED ARTIST Anthony Hancock (comedy legend Tony Hancock: The
Punch and Judy Man) believes he is talented enough to become an acclaimed,
wealthy and famous painter and sculptor.
His complaining landlady Mrs Cravatt (a wonderful portrayal by the lovely Irene
Handl) ridiculing his art and the boring repetition of his 9-to-5 dead-end job
with a tedious commute by train, finally gets to him. He yearns to be different,
donning an artist's smock and beret the moment he arrives home.
“Brilliant
funny man
the late Tony Hancock
takes a tongue-in-cheek
swipe at white-collar
uniformity and
the pretensions of the
art world.
Fabulously OTT!”
He
insults his manager (the always watchable John le Mesurier: Where The Spies
Are; television's Dad's Army), walks away from his menial position
and heads to Paris in an attempt to achieve his dream in the witty satire The
Rebel.
Quickly finding adulation from young artist Paul (Paul Massie: The Two Faces
of Dr Jekyll), who invites him to share a studio, and his friends (Oliver
Reed: Women in Love; Gladiator; Sandor Eles: And Soon The Darkness;
Countess Dracula; television's Crossroads; Garry Cockerill and Neville
Becker), Anthony fails to gain credibility from the art world.
Introduced
to cult leader Jim Smith (Dennis Price: Kind Hearts and Coronets) by
the wraithlike Josey (Nanette Newman: The Stepford Wives), Anthony bluffs
his way through his new life, enthusiastically introducing everyone to his 'infantile
art'.
Rubbished by dismissive experts, Anthony doesn't give up. Once a disillusioned
Paul has returned to England, a chance meeting with Sir Charles Brewer (George
Sanders: Rebecca; All About Eve) sees him basking in a glory he does
not deserve. Pretentious and arrogant and with an air of affectation, Anthony
(Tony Hancock at his fabulously OTT best) has made a name for himself but his
life will come crashing down when his trickery is discovered.
Making his starring feature-film debut, brilliant funny man the late Tony Hancock
takes a tongue-in-cheek swipe at white-collar uniformity and the pretensions
of the art world aided by an excellent supporting cast. All the paintings are
the work of Alistair Grant, who must have had great fun with the 'infantile
art' pieces. Love it!
The Rebel also features: Liz Fraser (Carry On Regardless) as Waitress;
Mervyn Johns (A Christmas Carol) as Manager of London Art Gallery; Dennis
Price (Kind Hearts and Coronets) as Jim Smith; Peter Bull as Manager
of Paris Art Gallery; Marie Burke as Mme Laurent; Bernard Rebel as Art Dealer;
Gregoire Aslan (King of Kings) as Carreras; Margit Saad as Margot Carreras;
and Mario Fabrizi as Coffee Bar Attendant.
Music is by Frank Cordell with The Associated British Studio Orchestra; Director
of Photography is Gilbert Taylor, BSC; Paul's Paintings are by Alistair Grant;
Screenplay by Alan Simpson and Ray Galton; based on an original story by Tony
Hancock, Alan Simpson and Ray Galton; Produced by W A Whittaker; and Directed
by Robert Day.
STUDIOCANAL marks the centenary in 2024 of the birth of British comedy royalty
Tony Hancock, announcing the release of The Rebel, part of the Vintage
Classics Collection, on DVD and Blu-ray on March 3 2025.
Year: 1961. Extras Material: New — An Irrepressible Streak: Paul
Merton on The Rebel | New — A Definitive Comedian: Diane Morgan
on Tony Hancock | Commentary with comedian Paul Merton and screenwriters Ray
Galton and Alan Simpson | Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery | Theatrical Trailer.
TONY HANCOCK (1924-1968) is widely regarded as one of the most influential
figures in British comedy history. Born in Birmingham, England, he initially
pursued an acting career but early struggles to find success encouraged him
to turn to comedy.
Finding fame in the late 1950s with the BBC radio sitcom Hancock's Half Hour,
his portrayal of the lovably self-absorbed character resonated deeply with audiences
and, making the move to television, the programme quickly became a national
institution.
Hancock's comedy was notable for its subtle, intelligent wit and his ability
to convey vulnerability within humour. A master of the 'tragicomic' genre, using
his character's failings, frustrations and self-delusion to create a unique
blend of laughter and pathos, he paved the way for comedy icons such as Alan
Partridge and David Brent.
Struggling with declining mental health and alcoholism, Tony Hancock died in
1968. He left behind a legacy that continues to permeate British comedy to this
day.
"Fabulously OTT. Brilliant funny man the late Tony Hancock takes a tongue-in-cheek
swipe at white-collar uniformity and the pretensions of the art world. All the
paintings are the work of Alistair Grant, who must have had great fun with the
'infantile art' pieces. Love it!" ~ Maggie Woods, MotorBar
“Bored
with his mundane life