THE REBEL was produced by Universal Special. The STARS were Luis Trenker, Vilma Banky, and Victor Varconi. The movie was directed by Luis Trenker and Edwin H. Knopf. The story was written by Trenker and Knopf. Sepp Algeier, Albert Behnitz, and Willi Goldberger photographed the film. Musical score by Dr. Guiseppe Becce. The setting is the Tyrol.

THE STORY OF THE REBEL - Summer of 1809. Severin Anderlan, a university student, returns to the Tyrol. The tyranny of the allied French and Bavarian troops calls him back to his home. Mother and sister are expecting him. They can no longer guard the old Anderlan farm alone. As he is nearing the mountains that spell home to him, he encounters near an inn a pretty young girl, Erika, the daughter of the Bavarian magistrate, Riederer, who had been transferred to the Tyrol. The two are immediately attracted to each other.
At nightbreak, however, Severin stands before the ruins of his homestead! A ruthless act of violence of the foreign soldiery destroyed the farm of the Anderlans, murdering its inhabitants.
While Severin, seized with terror and despair, walks through the smoldering ruins, he hears the stamping of a cavalry patrol. He sees some Napoleonic dragoons approaching and in his wild anger shoots two of them out of their saddles. The third flees and reports the attack.
Severin has to flee for his life, chased by the galloping dragoons along the mountain ridges. Severin reaches the mountains, jumps off the horse and, climbing the steep wall, escapes.
Soon in all streets of the country warrants are posted for Severin Anderlan, the rebel: "500 Talers reward for bringing him in dead or alive!"

But Severin is only one of many who have sought liberty among the lonesome mountain tops. Three others find their way to him, living in a lonesome mountain hut. They had fled from a new forced conscription. Erika has understood Severin's actions and, without being noticed by either her father or Captain Leroy from the nearby quarters, has helped him with necessary provisions.
At a secret meeting held in darkened chapel, Severin voices the bitterness of many years of misery crying out for liberation! Severin feels the terrible injustice of Germans fighting against Germans, Tyrolese against Bavarians allied with Napoleon. He warns of the fratricidal war, he alone sees the real danger: the arrival of a new French army!
Severin runs through the dark night to the house of the magistrate Riederer. Erika wants to keep him back, but Severin penetrates into the chancellery where he looks for paper and copying press. In a circular letter to all German brethren. He repeats what he vainly claimed at the chapel. Captain Leroy has noticed a light in the chancellery and enters. Only Erika is in the room. He too is in love with Erika. Then he sees the last copy of the circular letter in the press and in spite of Erika's pleas calls the guard. A traitor shows the way to the mountain retreat. At dawn Severin is taken unawares in his hiding place, but again succeeds in escaping.

The march of the new French army is on. General Drouet has arrived at Innsbruck. At a brilliant ball in the Hofburg he receives officers and functionaries of the garrison, to give instructions for the entry. Severin Anderlan appears disguised as a Bavarian captain. He takes part in the meeting of the staff, and learns the plans of the entering army. In this breathless hour before the march, while dancing, amind the gaiety of the feast, Severin promises Erika to go back with her to Germany soon, to lead a happy life.
Severin slips away from the Hofburg, to call the Tyrol to arms to meets the invaders. The entire country arises at night in revolt, as fire signals blaze from the mountains. The bells ring out, from valley to valley flies the news: "They are coming! The French regiments march onward."
The silence of the morning suddenly becomes loud with the noise of the battle. Reserves of the French army arrive, regiment upon regiment, as the peasants fight bitterly. The Tyrolese eagle sinks. The valiant peasants are terribly outnumbered, though they have taken their toll with avalanches of rocks.
In the courtyard stands the rebel Severin Anderlan with his comrades. Captain Leroy reads the sentence "Death by shooting." The shots ring out. Severin has made the supreme sacrifice for his country.

PROMOTIONAL POSTERS: three posters from the film
Poster No. 1
Poster No. 2
Poster No. 3

PICTURES FROM THE REBEL: three stills from the movie

ARTICLES FROM THE FILM: Newspaper articles promoting The Rebel
Article No. 1
Article No. 2