In 1969, Jerry Savage (played by Sylvester Stallone), an anti-war activist on a secret mission, crosses paths with Laurie, a free-spirited hippie and jewelry maker. As the two develop a bond, Jerry becomes involved with a radical group in New York City, planning to sabotage a Vietnam War defense firm’s headquarters. However, as the FBI closes in, Jerry flees to Laurie’s rural commune to seek refuge and further immerse himself in their burgeoning romance.
Their love affair, while deeply passionate, ultimately takes a tragic turn. As Jerry narrowly escapes the FBI’s grasp, his doomed relationship with Laurie leads to unforeseen consequences.
“Rebel: Director’s Cut” traces the film’s origins back to 1971 when Robert Schnitzer conceived the original treatment titled Seize the Time!, which he co-wrote with Larry Beinhart, a future author of Wag the Dog. Produced with a micro-budget, Seize the Time! was shot in New York City and, after completion in 1973, was released under the title No Place to Hide. The film debuted at the Atlanta Film Festival and saw limited home video and TV distribution.
In 1976, following the success of Stallone’s Rocky, Schnitzer reworked the film, renaming it Rebel, and released it on home video and to international markets. However, by 2000, Schnitzer halted all distribution, intending to re-release it once the global rights were secured.
In 2023, through his company Movicorp, Schnitzer meticulously restored the film in 4K high definition and enhanced the soundtrack to stereo, adding new music and making minor improvements to fulfill his original vision. This edition, now titled Rebel: Director’s Cut, represents the closest version to his intended masterpiece, with no future revisions planned.
Directed by: Robert Allen Schnitzer
Screenplay by: Robert Allen Schnitzer and Larry Beinhart; additional dialogue by Louis Pastore
Produced by: David Appleton, Robert Allen Schnitzer
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Tony Page, Vickie Lancaster, Dennis Tate, Barbara Lee Govan, Rebecca Grimes, Roy White, Henry G. Sanders, Jed Mills
Country: USA
Language: English