For your July 4th viewing pleasure.
The Young Rebels was a short-lived television series that tried to cash in on the youth movement of the day. It aired on Sunday nights at 7:00 p.m. on ABC, opposite perrenial favorites Lassie and The Wonderful World of Disney -- which may go a long way to explaining why the series only aired fifteen episodes before giving up the ghost. It was the story of four teenagers from Chester, Pennsylvania, who fstyled themselves the "Yankee Doodle Society" and fought for American independence in 1777 by both spying on the British and by harassing their troops. Somehow I imagine the British would have won the war if it wasn't for those pesky kids.
Actually, if you think of this as The Mod Squad for the 1770s you wouldn't be far off.
The four Young Rebels were Jeremy, the mayor's son, played by Richard Ely, Isak, a former slave (Louis Gossett, Jr.), Henry, a bespectacled Benjamin Frankllin look-alike (Alex Hentiloff), and Elizabeth, Jeremy's younger sister, here because you had to include a girl in these things ( Hilary Thompson). To that mix they also added a young Lafayette (Philippe Fourquet). (Needless to say, Ely and Fouquet dominated the covers of the teen magazines for several months.)
In addition to The Young Rebels, Ely appeared in 18 television episode through 1982, inlcuding a seven-episode stint on One Life to Live. He released one record album in 1970. Lou Gossett, Jr., went on to a distinguished career as an actor, producer and director, becoming the first African-American to win an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor (Officer and a Gentleman), an Emmy (Roots), and two Golden Globe Awards (The Josephine Baker Story and An Officer and a Gentleman). Alex Hentiloff had a steady career in television: IMDb lists 91 credits through 1999. Hilary Thompson made her television debut at 18 and went on to score another 55 credits on IMDb through 1988, including a recurring ole on Operation Petticoat; she evidently retired after marrying writer-director-make-up effects artist Alan Ormsby in 1988. Philippe Fourquet was an extraordinarily handsome French actor who was hailed as a new Montgomery Clift. He co-starred with Jean Seberg in Otto Preminger's St. Joan and with Sandra Dee in Take Her, She's Mine. at one time he was engaged to actress Sharon Tate.
"Father and I Went Down to CAmp" was the premiere episode of The Young Rebels. After the loss of the Battle of Brandwine, Jeremy, Henry, and Isak help the American retreat by delaying the British pursuit, while at the same time aiding a wounded Lafayette. But the British have captured 18 cannons, so the Yankee Doodle Society and Lafayette devise a plan to restore the weapons to the American rebels. Among the guest stars in this episode were Frank Converse, Will Geer, and Sheb Wooley. The episode was directed by George McCowan and scripted by Harve Bennett, Peter Gayle, and Peter Allan Fields.
As you enjoy this July 4th treat, please consider: Somewhere in America last night, there was a person who did not realize he would not have all ten fingers before this day is out. Stay safe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4TZM7kmWJo
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