| Rebel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Michael Jenkins |
| Based on | playNo Names, No Pack Drill by Bob Herbert |
| Produced by | Phillip Emanuel |
| Starring | Matt Dillon Debra Byrne Bryan Brown |
| Music by | Chris Neal |
Production company | Phillip Emanuel Productions |
| Distributed by | Roadshow Entertainment (Australia) Vestron Pictures (United States) |
Release date |
|
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$5 million[1] |
| Box office | A$886,769 (Australia)[2] |
Rebel is a 1985 Australian musical drama directed byMichael Jenkins and starringMatt Dillon,Debra Byrne, andBryan Brown. It is set in World War Two.[3]
The movie was based on the playNo Names, No Packdrill, by Bob Herbert, uncle ofLouis Nowra.
The play had its premiere in 1979 at theUniversity of New England.
The play was performed by theSydney Theatre Company in 1980 starringMel Gibson andNoni Hazlehurst, directed byGeorge Ogilvie. The production was so popular the season was extended at theTheatre Royal.[4]
It has been revived several times, notably in 2006.[5]
Considerable changes were made from the play, including turning the female lead from a postal worker into a singer in a female band. It was originally hoped to castOlivia Newton-John in this role butDebra Byrne was cast instead and made a great personal success in it.[6]
Director Mike Jenkins decided to push the musical aspect, and went for a stylised approach in collaboration with designer Brian Thomson. The manager ofMatt Dillon, who was imported to play the lead, did not like the approach, saying it was too much like aFrancis Ford Coppola movie - which Thomson took as a compliment. He wanted his client to appear in a straight period film closer toBreaker Morant. However Jenkins and Thomson's vision prevailed.[7]
The film was not a success. Director Mike Jenkins later said that:
It's funny,Rebel has attracted some fierce critiques from intellectuals who subsequently liked other things that I've done. But it also won five AFI awards and was the most nominated film of its year. It was a curious piece; it didn't altogether work. I was interested in it because of the basic story about the American boy who wants to desert. It said something about Australia and Sydney in World War II.[8]
A Soundtrack was released in December 1985 and credited toMatt Dillon andDebbie Byrne. The album peaked at number 75 on theKent Music Report.