GAIL RUSSELL: "THE REBEL"

[PLEASE READ] The beautiful actress's finest dramatic performance of her career.
The show: THE REBEL. Complete episode: "Noblesse Oblige." Original airdate: February 14, 1960. This is the best of Gail's three television acting credits. And, like Marilyn Monroe at the twilight of her life, she never looked better. On THE REBEL, Gail plays "Cassandra Bannister," a wistful, postbellum Southern belle holding onto pride and regret.
Gail Russell's filmography:
www.imdb.com/name/nm0751149/
IMPORTANT: This is a video sampler of goodwill and great admiration. If you are a professional and want credit I've neglected to give OR prefer that I delete this video, please let me know. Thank you.

[@TheMaceymacreary]

A.J. Fenady was one of the nicest people around and wanted to do as much as he could to help Gail Russell. She struggled with a disease which takes a lot to keep in check. I love Gail Russell and identify with her a great deal and even at this late in her struggle, she still looked great in my eyes. God bless Mr. Fenady and Miss Russell!

[@snookumsjack]

I read where John Wayne tried to help her too.

[@linwoodgordon5143]

Gail is just lovely as always. RIP Angel

[@foxvienna1]

She was wonderful in Angel and Badman. Shined like a lighthouse beacon!

[@rebeccadavis7219]

favorite

[@snookumsjack]

I loved this series. I lived in Memphis(as a Kid)where me & my friends would watch these shows. Blue Plate Mayo was the Sponsor. Thanks for posting. Gail Russell is one of my favorite actresses from the past esp enjoyed her in "Angel & the Badman" with John Wayne.

[@mrlaw711]

As a northern man from Illinois I spent time in Memphis in 1963-1965. While there was cultural contrast for me I truly enjoyed my time there. To this day I feel the same , and go out of my way to drive through Tennessee.

[@williampaulbeaugruendler7901]

Robert Vaughan! What a fine supporting role!

[@davidpearsall3243]

At about this time Robert Vaughn appeared in an excellent Untouchables episode the "Charlie Argos Story" and in Wagon Train he played a man who was or wasn't John Wilkes Booth in a script by Richard Maibaum writer of many early James Bond films.

[@coerfjoe1]

As they say, "luck is when preparation meets opportunity," but Gail had the opportunity without the necessary preparation. Like Veronica Lake, another busload of beauties arrives each year, those who can't stand the spotlight will exit. A gorgeous, fragile, tragic actress who will be eternal on film.

[@vanhowell3011]

Thank you much for giving us (and GR) this recognition & appreciation. I'd never heard of her until by chance I watched The Unseen earlier tonight, and then got curious and read her imdb bio etc. Based on what they said there, I would have expected her to be obese, addled and unable to see straight let alone act by 1960. You're right, she actually did fulfill her great potential, even it was if only once and right at the end.

[@h.e.pennypacker2037]

Gail Russell was such a beauty lady. May she Rest In Peace.

[@warrenmazyck8254]

Yea she was

[@linwoodgordon5143]

Gail's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was dedicated 2-8-1960. That's 7 days before the air date of this film. She lived with that satisfaction for 18 more months. She was far from over the hill.

[@63DW89A]

Thank you for this upload, and the opportunity to see Gail Russell in one of her final roles. Gail really makes the most of the few scenes she is in, and gives us a short glimpse of the fine actress she was. Sadly she would be dead of alcoholism at age 36, about 18 months after this episode aired. Gail was so insecure and shy that she had turned to alcohol to cope with acting. As commented below, Gail absolutely lit up the screen in "Angel and the Bad Man" and she made the movie, effectively putting John Wayne in a supporting role. I feel John Wayne allowed Gail to shine so brightly, because he knew she had the talent, but lacked self confidence, and he had grown very fond of her and was concerned abut her problem. John Wayne's affection for Gail was very fatherly, but his wife at the time was insanely jealous, so the Duke was forced to back away from helping Gail. This is tragic because John Wayne's fatherly guidance may possibly have been the key to Gail's self-confidence growing and overcoming the alcohol addiction. So we are left with glimpses of a talented capable young actress with clear star quality onscreen, whose slow self-destruction leaves us sadly thinking of "What could have been".

[@jamesdunn9714]

You assume a lot here I think but you may be right.

[@63DW89A]

+James Dunn You are correct that I am assuming Wayne could have steered Gail away from the self destructive path she was on. I've read the two recent biographies published on Gail. I've come to the conclusion that Gail's troubled early family life may have put her on a self destructive path that no one could have steered her away from. I think she would have gone down that path regardless of career chosen. I do feel that Wayne may have been the one person who may possibly have been able to steer Gail away from that path, because he understood Gail's problems and anxieties better than most due to having similar issues in his own childhood. Sadly Gail was prone to extended periods of extreme depression so it is probably more likely that not even Wayne could have pulled her off that self destructive path. Gail's times with Wayne were likely the most stable times of her life. Wayne made sure she didn't get alcohol, made sure she had nutritious meals, and had her out and about with him and not avoiding people as she was prone to do.

[@jamesdunn9714]

63DW89A Yes, it sounds logical. She was self destructive but Wayne seems to have been a salvation for her. But he eventually had to go back to his own life.

[@ashumasinghkaul]

63DW89A 9)9

[@LSU01]

Well said ,Gail was beautiful and talented!

[@harmonichebe]

kenneth tobey-another great character actor

[@kennethstokes5102]

22:45 Watching Gail Russell utter this line breaks my heart.

[@georgeplagianos6487]

hey I appreciate everybody's coming here I learned much here though I don't know much about Gail. thank you again for your comments.

[@beegee1960]

One of the best of the T V Western of the day.

[@captainape6807]

It's amazing how the half hour Western works so well. Other examples being The Rifleman and Johnny Ringo.

[@dougmccall367]

Love this western

[@howardmanley3388]

The punching sounds they use or fighting scenes is hilarious! Motion pictures have come along way!

[@63DW89A]

Modern special effects may be better in some ways, compared to a late 50's TV program like "The Rebel", but the writing for TV in the 50's/60's was incredibly well done, much better than modern TV for sure. I just acquired the first season of "The Rebel" on DVD (33 episodes), and the show has amazing quality for a simple 1/2 hour western. Not to mention the stunning long list of legendary character actors appearing in 'The Rebel" too! As a new Gail Russell fan, I bought the first season primarily for her appearance in "Noblesse Oblige" (Season 1, Episode 19). Out of curiosity I started watching from episode 1, and was immediately impressed. The scripts are tight, beautifully written with great characters and intriguing stories that just pull you in. The DVD I found at Wal Mart and the episodes are complete including the original theme song sung by Johnny Cash as well as various advertising appearing on the titles (Lucky Strike, Crest, Cheer, etc). I was 4-5 years old when "The Rebel" originally aired in 1959-61, and this DVD is much better than my hazy 5-year-old memory of the original TV airings!

[@watchgoose]

Everyone talking about Gail, no one mentioning Robert Vaughn!!

[@dougmccall367]

@19:18 Quincy doesn’t use his crutches to walk around the corner. Must have thought he was out of cameraman’s view

[@johnrogan9420]

A year after the civil war ends....this man operates in a full rebel uniform...new york accent ...nick Adams...every long island boy's fantasy!

[@rebelforchristdronrewind3792]

Tho I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil thy rod and staff will comfort me but in today's world walk tall and carry a big stick and know how to use it

[@clayguy1]

I was 15 when the episode first played..

[@harmonichebe]

paul richards also!!! all grades A1 character actors

[@MaestroDawg65]

This is a "textbook" western. A classic. A true "Gold Standard". :)

[@goldstandard1568]

MaestroDawg65 I enjoyed reading your great comment! Thanks for taking the time.

[@Jay-n262]

Maybe but I'll stick with Tombstone as the greatest ever made.

[@harmonichebe]

robert vaughan also!!!

[@agiftedpainter7088]

She was a good actress. But I wonder at what cost.

[@joantreis8331]

What book is it the John Yuma quotes at the end about a "handfull of ashes"?

[@gregmiller9710]

Man from UNCLE

[@snookumsjack]

With are horrible "Southern Accent".

[@magovenor]

Two hard luck people, Nick Adams and Gail Russell.

[@rebelforchristdronrewind3792]

I like the scattered gun 🔫

[@FlipDahlenburg]

Scatter-gun.

[@robertpayne2717]

ROBERT VAUGHAN

[@lookingisheratinyou6142]

What happened? She was only 36 years old. I never seen such a tortured expression on someone. There is a story to be told. And I hope someone tells it.

[@DDumbrille]

It's been told many times. Check out the episode of "Mysteries and Scandals" on youtube, filmed around 20 years ago...

[@redlinemando]

@@DDumbrille Yes, but try to overlook the insensitive & poorly written halfwit script written for the narrator.