Thursday Television Review: The Rebel

The Rebel (1959-1961)

Starring: Nick Adams

Summary

Former Confederate soldier, Johnny Yuma (Nick Adams), travels around the United States after realizing he has no home to return to. He has a heart for writing and as he travels, he writes about his experiences and the people he meets.

Yuma often comes against trouble, because of his allegiance to the Confederacy, but more than anything, he wishes to be left alone. Nevertheless, he isn’t willing to let someone alone who needs help. Although, rough around the edges, he cares deeply for people.

Johnny Yuma does his bit to help the post-Civil War environment understand that Confederates aren’t bad by association.

Review

Nick Adams does an excellent job of portraying the rough and hardened Confederate, Johnny Yuma. A complex character, Yuma has led a hard life after losing his family and then going through a losing war. Adams portrays the sadness, the anger, the fear, and the curiosity that all encompasses Johnny Yuma.

Although Yuma seems to be a guy who cares not for anything or anyone, except his writing, you can still find a heart that cares deeply. This is evident in each episode, as he stops to help someone in need, even when he doesn’t have to. Angry at the world for looking down on him for his allegiance to the Confederacy and not understanding why his uniform changes who he is, he often finds trouble. However, he can't stand injustice, no matter who it's against or why. Adams is Johnny Yuma, in many ways, and no one could portray him better.

The theme song fits well with the story, adding a familiarity to it and helping the viewer to get a piece of the Johnny Yuma’s back story each episode. Sung by Johnny Cash, it is a classic in television theme history!

Ellen Nolan