Tuesday 23 February 2021

The Rebel (1961 Robert Day)

Not as successful as last night's Hancock. The opening is fine - the disquiet of the salaryman leads him to artistic harbour in Paris, where he develops theories about 'the colour being the wrong shape' and befriends an artist who's actually good. So Galton and Simpson's script is largely successful at poking fun at the elitism of the art establishment, but throws in a very tiresome plot in which Hancock's pursued by the wife (Margit Saad) of millionaire patron Gregoire Aslan, and extra-heavy sculptures. I quite liked his crappy paintings, especially the birds taking off. Alistair Grant contributes the good ones (Paul Massie plays the artist).

With lots of familiar faces: John Le Mesurier, Irene Handl, George Sanders, Dennis Price, Liz Fraser, Mervyn Johns, Peter Bull, Nanette Newman and Oliver Reed.

There has always been something quintessentially romantic about an artist seeking inspiration in Paris -  the impoverished artist's garret. Maybe the time has come for a variation on that theme?

"I got no time for naked women without no clothes on. They're lewd."


My own favourite of the artist's work

Photographed by Gilbert Taylor.

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