Director: Robert Day
Screenplay: Alan Simpson and Ray Galton
Starring: Tony Hancock, George Sanders, Paul Massie, Margit Saad, Grégoire Aslan, Dennis Price, Irene Handl, John Le Mesurier
Country: United Kingdom
Running Time: 105 min
Year: 1961
BBFC Certificate: PG
By the early 1960s, Tony Hancock was a huge star in Britain, thanks to the fantastic success of his BBC series Hancock’s Half Hour, which began as a radio show in 1954 before transitioning to television two years later. Featuring future Carry On stars Kenneth Williams and Sid James amongst others, the series was written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and lasted for seven years, with more than 100 episodes airing on radio alone.
With the success of the radio and television show cemented, now was the time for Hancock to try to conquer the big screen, and also try to crack the American market, which the likes of Peter Sellers had already begun to do. Cue The Rebel, Hancock’s feature debut, which was once again penned by Galton and Simpson, though this time with a little help from Hancock who contributed to the story.
After some beautifully animated opening titles, we’re immediately introduced to Hancock’s character, called Anthony Hancock, at a railway station, the only person on his platform. He sees a sign advertising better jobs and we’ll soon discover the importance of this, as he’s been doing the same office clerk job for 14 years and doesn’t see the point anymore. He gets on the train and a load of fellow office workers all appear too.
Hancock’s character’s inner narration gives a sense of what he’s feeling, essentially not liking his humdrum life and imagining lives for the other railway commuters. After making up dull lives for his fellow commuters, he turns his thoughts to himself and we see he’s incredibly disappointed with his lot in life. He feels his life is slipping away with no achievements.
Hancock arrives at work and we see he’s a budding artist too, drawing caricatures of his fellow workers. He decides to turn this casual hobby into a new venture, a way to escape his current boring life and leave a legacy for himself, in a memorable sequence which sees him act out against his boss, played by the marvellous John Le Mesurier.
Hancock soon departs for Paris, determined to make it big as an artist, but he’s just not very good – though he initially makes an immediate mark with his wild tales about his life, career and new approach to art, and in the final act will make it big thanks to a wonderful bit of misunderstanding by an art collector played to perfection by George Sanders.
That’s the set-up (and tease of the finale) for a wonderful film, which is full of sight gags, one liners, carefully choreographed sequences and a satirical look at the daily 9-5 grind and an alternate option of life as a bohemian artist. As I’ve alluded to, it’s also a comedy of mistaken identity as Hancock eventually secures huge fame as an artist – except the art that he’s lauded for is not his; he’s just been given the paintings by his former roommate and despite trying to point this out he’s ignored and ultimately just goes along with it, finding the direction in life he’s been so longing for.
One of the striking elements of The Rebel is the difference between Hancock at work (bored, depressed) and at home (a budding artist full of life and vigour), which may chime with viewers who don’t see the point of their job and long to turn a passion, like art, for example, into a living. Hancock’s carving a grotesque female sculpture at home, which is a great visual gag. In fact, the sculpture is a repeat gag, popping up several more times before being unceremoniously dropped into the sea when being transferred to a ferry for Hancock’s trip to France, and then making a welcome return to close out the picture.
Repeat scenes on both sides of the Atlantic are also a hoot; similar landladies, coffee shop sequences and more, whilst smiles are also brought by the comparison between Hancock’s “impressionist” style paintings which aren’t very good and are quite childlike and the striking paintings by his talented Parisian roommate, played by Paul Massie. The room they share is an incredible piece of set design and there’s also some great location footage shot in both England and France.
There are also plenty of visual gags like office workers doing their boring jobs in the same way in a wonderfully choreographed sequence that’s a real treat, while the paintings are also excellent gags in their own right. It’s a pleasure watching Hancock’s character painting famous Parisian landmarks like the Basilique du Sacre Coeur and the Eiffel Tower, us first seeing his painting with the audience trying to figure out what the landmark is, before the camera pans out and we see the real, and very different, structure itself.
There’s plenty of fabulous characters, from Le Mesurier’s office manager to Irvine Handl’s landlady Mrs Crevatte, who steals every scene she’s in, particularly through her disdainful comments about Hancock’s sculpture. We also briefly meet Jim Smith, played by the amazing Ealing Studios star Dennis Price and look out too for a blink and you’ll miss it cameo by Oliver Reed, in only his second film, here appearing as an artist in a café scene that opens the Paris section of the film.
The Rebel sees Tony Hancock taking no prisoners in a brilliant satire of both the daily grind and those who choose to stay on the hamster wheel, and the bohemian artistic life that could be an alternative option for some. There’s plenty of fun one liners and hilarious sight gags, Hancock is on top form and is well complemented by a wonderful supporting cast, and there’s fine support from the production design, cinematography, music and location filming. I had a lot of fun with The Rebel, it’s a very funny, classic British comedy.
Film: 
The Rebel is released on Blu-Ray on 3rd March 2025 by StudioCanal. The picture is beautiful, it’s a gorgeous restoration, the colours really pop yet the picture retains a filmic quality. It likely looks as good as it ever has. The audio is also fine, the dialogue, sound effects and music each coming through distinctly.
EXTRAS:
An Irrepressible Streak: Paul Merton on The Rebel
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
The Rebel was previously released by the sadly departed Blu-ray and DVD label Network, who included a trailer, image gallery and physical booklet containing the script by screenwriters Galton and Simpson for the unmade film The Day Off. StudioCanal add two interviews and a commentary, though lose the booklet.
Comedian Paul Merton is joined by the films screenwriters Galton and Simpson for a fantastic commentary, which sees the writers share what it was like working with Hancock. The star didn’t get involved in the writing of the TV series according to them, but played a big part in the film, a huge move for him after the likes of fellow Brit Peter Sellers had already begun to crack America. There’s some great anecdotes about the likes of co-stars Handl and Le Mesurier and Oliver Reed. The trio, particularly Merton, also have a good laugh at some of the best scenes. Fantastic stuff.
Paul Merton also appears in a filmed appreciation, which is equally strong. Running for 17 minutes the comedian gives a great overview of the Birmingham-born Hancock, his early career, his early performances in front of the RAF, and his stage, radio and screen career. We learn how he met screenwriters Galton and Simpson and the genesis of Hancock’s Half Hour, and hear Merton wax lyrical about some of the highlights of The Rebel. It’s a fabulous piece.
Diane Morgan also contributes an entertaining video piece, this one running for 12 minutes and taking a look at Hancock. We hear how Morgan first came across Hancock and why she is a huge fan. Merton’s piece gives more factual background, whereas Morgan’s piece is more of an enthusiastic appreciation. Morgan shares why Hancock worked so well as a comedian, what he lost when trying to appeal to a wider audience than his British home fanbase, and some of the wonderful moments in the film and the follow-up The Punch and Judy Man, also released by StudioCanal. A cracking piece.
The behind the scenes gallery contains 28 black and white images and the extras are concluded by that three minute trailer.
So, StudioCanal have provided an excellently curated package that provides insight into Tony Hancock the man and the comedian, as well as a wealth of background to the filming of The Rebel. The film is a British comedy classic and it’s well presented with a beautiful transfer, fantastic commentary and two entertaining and insightful interviews.
Disc/Package: 