I'm sure many of us would empathise with our main character, and love to escape the humdrum boredom, idiot "out-of-touch" managers and needless stress of the office for a more exciting life - trouble is the grass isn't always greener on the other side, as this film shows very well.


The rebel in Paris!   August 26, 2003
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I've always liked Tony Hancock.He's one of the finest comic talents that England ever produced. It's a shame that his film career didn't take off like his radio and TV career did. However, The Rebel is a fine film indeed and it shows his remarkable talent to the full. Tony Hancock plays Anthony Hancock a bored city worker with a passion for art who flees the boredom of city life in London to move to Paris to bcome a painter. He unexpectedly becomes the darling of the Paris art world with hilarious consequences. I would recommend this film to anyone to see. Hancock may not be everyone's cup of tea but this film is worth watching to see what a great comic he was and that he should be remembered and treasured as a national icon.


An Under-Rated Masterpiece   January 17, 2002
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

At least, that's what Hancock would call the monstrosity which adorns his bedsit, and which causes him to head for Paris and the life of an artist. As the proverbial fish out of water, this is near-classic Hancock, and George Sanders' turn as the bemused authority figure to Hancock's bumbling is every bit as funny as his better-known role in Peter Sellers' second Clouseau outing "A Shot in the Dark" four years later.

The script is Galton & Simpson and Hancock is on good form. Lovers of the BBC "Half-Hours" shouldn't be disappointed. This film should have led to greater things - sadly it didn't. Instead it stands as the only opportunity to see Hancock (and his art) in glorious technicolor.


Postmodern satire before Postmodernism was invented   June 4, 2000
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

If you ever thought modern art was rubbish, here's Hancock proving that very point forty years ago. As the bored white collar worker who deceives the pretentious art establishment, Hancock transfers his radio/television persona to the big screen in this sharply penned satire. Yasmin Reza look and weep!