The Young Rebels (1970–1971)

This short-lived series tried to apply the ideals of the '60s youth culture to the American Revolution. Jeremy Larkin, Isak Poole, Henry Abington and Elizabeth Coates were members of "the ... See full summary »

Creator:

Peter Gayle

Stars:

Richard Ely, Louis Gossett Jr., Alex Henteloff

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Richard Ely	...	Jeremy Larkin (15 episodes, 1970-1971)
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Isak Poole (15 episodes, 1970-1971)
Alex Henteloff	...	Henry Abington (15 episodes, 1970-1971)
Hilary Thompson	...	Elizabeth Coates (15 episodes, 1970-1971)
Philippe Forquet	...	Gen. the Marquis de Lafayette (14 episodes, 1970-1971)

Storyline

This short-lived series tried to apply the ideals of the '60s youth culture to the American Revolution. Jeremy Larkin, Isak Poole, Henry Abington and Elizabeth Coates were members of "the Yankee Doodle Society", a rebel group based in Chester, Pennsylvania in 1777. Reporting directly to General Lafayette, the team operated as spies behind British lines. Jeremy was the son of Chester's Tory mayor, who hid his political ideas behind a facade of disinterested pacifism. Elizabeth was a liberated woman ahead of her time and Isak was an ex-slave. The brains of the group was Henry, a big fan of Benjamin Franklin (whom he resembled), and always able to invent whatever device or scheme the group needed to finish their missions.

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Plot Keywords:

american revolution | revolutionary war

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Genres:

Adventure

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 September 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Giovani ribelli

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Gems Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (15 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Commentary on "The Young Rebels"....A Mixture of Daniel Boone with a hint of The Mod Squad set in colonial times

The short-lived series "The Young Rebels" was ABC's answer for its replacement to the Irwin Allen fantasy/action-adventure series "The Land Of The Giants",which ended its two year-run in the spring of 1970. For the network's fall schedule of new shows for the 1970-1971 season,this series was supposed to allow the youthful social rebels of the late 1960's and early 1970's to relate to the times of the American Revolution. In other words,"The Young Rebels",was basically the Mod Squad set in the 1700's at the time of the Revolutionary War. This was part history lesson and part adventure as well with a hint of Fess Parker's frontier adventure show "Daniel Boone" added in as a measure at the time this show premiered was off the air after an astounding six year run. In other words,"The Young Rebels" was part "Daniel Boone" meets "The Mod Squad" with a bit of "Mission:Impossible".

"The Young Rebels",consisted of four young leads who were members of the fictional Yankee Doodle Society,based in Chester,Pennsylvania,in the year 1777. Their goal was to harass the British behind their lines and to serve as spies for the American forces. Everyone was under 30,and British rule was the "system" they sought to overturn. In perspective,you had kids ratting on other kids or adults who were against society....just like "The Mod Squad". As for the kids themselves you had Jeremy(Rick Ely),the son of the town's mayor and was the leader of the group;Elizabeth(Hilary Thompson)his teenage girlfriend and helper;Isak(Louis Gossett,Jr.)an ex-slave,and Henry(Alex Henteloff)the brains of the outfit. General Lafayette(Philippe Forquet)was a French nobleman who had come to aid the rebels in various missions. The characters were just like the kids on "The Mod Squad",with Jeremy(as Pete),Elizabeth(as Julie),Isak(as Linc),and General Lafayette(as Lt. Tige). Henry was the kid with the brains and the specials expert(on the same ground as Barney Collier on Mission:Impossible).

The show had a lot of action,high-adventure and consisted of various guest stars that became youthful patriots(one of them consisted of Brandon De Wilde as Nathan Hale). The show produced 27 episodes for ABC-TV and it ran for one season from September 20,1970-January 3,1971. The show was on Sunday nights at the 7:00 hour,and it when up against "The Wonderful World of Disney",and "Lassie" in the ratings,which clobbered it. It was preceded by the network's most successful show,"The FBI". The executive producer of this series was none other than Aaron Spelling (who was also behind ABC's most successful show,"The Mod Squad",which was a huge hit was young audiences). When the show went off the air in the winter of 1971,the show that replaced it became one of the shortest variety shows ever to grace the early part of the 1970's.... "Howard Cosell Presents"-aka "The Howard Cosell Show".