Strong and Moving!

Sadly Over-hyped

Better Late Then Never

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

THERE SEEMS TO be a nearly eternal popularity deeply entrenched into the very fiber of the stories dealing with "rebels." Be they authentic guerrilla type fighters or those representing restless and idealistic (and often very naïve)individuals. We need only look at some of our most popular movies of the day.IN GOINGH BACK some years (being ever since WWII), we have had many films with this particular theme. Often categorized as the "Anti-hero", the characters and their stories have had such appeal as we've been talking. Consider: Marlon Brando in THE WILD ONE, Paul Newman in COOL HAND Luke, Tom Laughlin in BILLY JACK and the premier candidate, James Dean in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE.AND SPEAKING OF Mr.Dean, it was his meteoric rise and tragic demise that added to both his own personal legend; as well as to the desire to have "rebellious" movie themes. In typical Hollywood fashion, there was a frantic scurrying about in hopes of finding the "New James Dean"; or at least someone who resembles him and could fill the void.THIS EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH by "Talent Scouts" did manage to bring forth a number of talented individuals; although none really did the impossible by replacing the fallen Star. Among those who were thought to be viable candidates were: Robert Conrad, Martin Sheen, Ty Hardin, Rip Taylor* and Nick Adams.SO IN THE casting of the youthful Mr. Adams as the lead in THE REBEL TV Series, the producers essentially fulfilled both rebel types. The character of Johnny Yuma was both young and full of blank and vinegar and was also a veteran of the defeated Army of the Confederate States of America. Indeed, what a coup de tat this was for the producers in "killing two birds with one stone", so to speak.THE SERIES, WHICH did make it successfully through two seasons of brutal ratings wars of its own, traced the adventures lived by the young veteran former foot soldier. We follow his meandering through the Post-Bellum Western United States. He always has to prove himself to somebody; both as a man (because of his young age) and because he is a former "Johnny Reb".NO MATTER WHERE Yuma 'wandered', the locals were sure to be able to size him up instantly as a Reb. Why, you ask? Well it was probably because he always wore his Gray uniform and rebel flat-topped brimmed cap; being a dead give away.AS WAS THE custom, the central character in these 1950s 'Horse Operas' had special weapons. Much like Josh Randall (Steve McQueen) on WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE, Johnny's weapon of choice was sawed off. But rather than its being a cut down carbine rifle, This Rebel had a surgically shortened shotgun. OUCH!!! WE HAVE JUST discovered that in addition to being in front of the camera, Nick Adams was both the co-creator and sometimes writer to the series. He also did own some piece of the series. (Good for you, Nick!) WHEN ONRE WATCHES one of the episodes of THE REBEL today, there is something very different. The original theme song and signature song, "The Ballad of Johnny Yuma" is not present on these modern day prints. It was very well known and sung by every kid in our neighborhood. It was recorded for the series by a singer named Johnny Cash. It has been replaced on the soundtrack by an instrumental instead. Once again, why you asked? WELL THIS IS only a guess, but it's probably over either the rights to the song or because it may well require payments of healthy residuals to the Estate of the Late Mr. Cash; a practice abhorred by just about any Hollywood producer.CAN YOU SAY "bottom line", Schultz?

As someone who finally got around to watching reruns of practically every Western TV series, I found THE REBEL to be a gem.Sure when you think of "Classic Westerns" names like "Gunsmoke", "Bonanza" always crop up...but the "REBEL" deserves it's on place.Nick Adams plays the part of a confederate who comes home after the war to find out his pa (a sheriff) was killed and a basically apathetic town...he (Adams) has a desire to write for the local paper...but the editor is leaving town to avoid getting shot himself...but leaves parting advice to Yuma (Adams) which was "Before you can write about life...you need to LIVE it".So the series begins with Johnny Yuma living life and documenting it.The series was very well done and balanced between teaching life's lessons and action.

I just finished watching the complete series of "The Rebel" (over a period of a couple months), and have become a big fan of the show and it's star Nick Adams well after the fact. I was around when this TV Western debuted in 1959, but for some reason, never watched it back then, preferring "Rawhide" and "Wanted:Dead or Alive". There's something interesting about watching a show fifty years after it was made, especially when the stories could just as easily have been told today using the post Civil War context.Johnny Yuma was a Rebel in more ways than one. He was, to be sure, an ex-Confederate soldier roaming the West after the War. But unlike Chuck Connors' character Lucas McCain in "The Rifleman", he used his fists to beat up as many men as Lucas might have killed with a gun. Nick Adams brought a restless and short tempered quality to his portrayal of Johnny Yuma, and it often seemed that he invited trouble at his own expense, especially since he always traveled in complete Confederate uniform. He also traveled with his trusted journal, a concept introduced right from the beginning. As Johnny traveled from town to town, he recorded his feelings and impressions, trying to understand what life was all about, but almost never finding answers. The shows often explored the themes of honor, integrity and justice, and Johnny would never walk away from a situation that required someone to stand up for what was right.The series got off to that kind of start right with the first episode, aptly titled 'Johnny Yuma'. Johnny returns to his home town of Mason City, Texas after the war, only to learn that his father was murdered by a gang of thugs led by John Carradine. The bad boy bunch included Dan Blocker and Strother Martin, and looking back on it today, that was quite an impressive guest lineup, even if those names weren't as well known back in the day. Johnny defeats the villainous gang and restores the town to law and order, but at the same time sets the stage for his wanderlust, taking off for parts unknown instead of accepting a job offer at home. It was the kind of theme that repeated itself throughout the series run.Johnny's back story included living for a time with the Kiowa Indians as a youngster, and soldiering with the Third Texas Cavalry Regiment. He spent a year at a Yankee prison camp at Rock Island, and escaped to finish out the last six months of the war with Lee's Army in Northern Virginia. "Like swallowin' a bitter gall" was how Johnny described losing the War. However Johnny also recognized the worth of an enemy, as in Episode #1.33 - 'Grant of Land', about a Union soldier who won a Medal of Honor. I think my favorite episode might be #1.37 - 'At Appomattox', told in flashback. Johnny plans on killing General Grant before an armistice can be signed, but while eavesdropping as Grant offers terms of surrender to Lee, he's impressed with Grant's compassion and respect for Lee and the Southern cause. He comes away with an understanding that the North was fighting for something too.Another gripping story was Episode #1.34 - 'Night on a Rainbow', unusual looking back on it now, as it dealt with the theme of drug addiction at a time when drugs were quickly becoming a national epidemic but not being addressed yet in popular culture. The show revealed the fact that one in four hundred soldiers returning from the war was an addict; in the story, Johnny tries to help a former soldier friend with his reliance on morphine.During it's short two year run, "The Rebel" featured many of the familiar character actors of the era, like John Anderson, Royal Dano, and Jack Elam, but also had some surprise (at least to me) guests as well. Johnny Cash, who performs the show's theme song, appeared in an early first season episode, followed along the way by future stars like Robert Blake, Leonard Nimoy and Jamie Farr. John Dehner had a repeat role in the series as Uncle John Sims to his nephew Johnny Yuma. Perhaps the most unexpected guest to pop up was Soupy Sales as a villain in an episode (#2.51 - 'Hope Chest') that also included William Demarest. It's always cool to see well known names in unexpected places.In the final episode, Johnny bundled up his journal and had it sent off to a friend care of the Mason City Bulletin. It was in this final show that an Indian Chief named LeBlanc called Johnny by his Indian name - 'White Kiowa". By any name, White Kiowa, Johnny Yuma, or The Rebel - this was one of the best TV Westerns to come out of the era, and still a treat and a pleasure to watch today.

In the 50s, as a kid, I watched Gunsmoke, Maverick, Have Gun Will Travel and the others.When Johnny Yuma, 'The Rebel' came along, there was no need to watch the others. When it went off the air in two short years, I never watched Westerns again. This series said it all, the only one I thought projected the West as it might have been, the only one worth looking back at 50 years later.It had decent scripts and all the technical trappings, but Nick Adams was a rebel from the first episode to the last.I never cared for much Nick did before or after 'Rebel' but James Dean would have been proud of what his friend did in bringing a 'Rebel Without a Cause' to the west. I think Nick wanted it this way