The Rebel Set (1959)

Directed by Gene Fowler Jr., The Rebel Set is a low-budget crime thriller that blends noir sensibilities with beatnik culture. Released by Allied Artists, the film follows a trio of down-and-out bohemians recruited for an elaborate armored car robbery during a train layover in Chicago. It’s a tale of desperation, deception, and double-crosses—set against the backdrop of postwar disillusionment.

Plot Summary
Mr. Tucker, the suave owner of a Los Angeles coffeehouse, handpicks three struggling regulars for a high-stakes job:

• John Mapes, a failed actor
• Ray Miller, a drunken writer
• George Leland, the spoiled son of a movie star

The plan is simple: rob an armored car during a four-hour stopover in Chicago while en route to New York by train. The heist goes off smoothly, but once the trio is back on board, paranoia and greed begin to unravel their alliance. One by one, the conspirators are eliminated—first George, then Ray—until only John remains to confront Tucker, who’s disguised as a priest and plotting his final escape.

Cast Highlights

• Gregg Palmer as John Mapes
• Edward Platt as Mr. Tucker
• Don Sullivan as Ray Miller
• John Lupton as George Leland
• Kathleen Crowley as Jeanne Mapes
• Ned Glass as Sidney
• Vince Barnett, Byron Foulger, and Robert Shayne in supporting roles

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

• The film was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Season 4), where its beatnik setting and melodrama were ripe for riffing
• Edward Platt and Ned Glass, who played the film’s villains, were known for portraying affable characters in other roles
• The train heist was inspired by real-life logistics: the Los Angeles–New York route includes a stopover in Chicago, which the plot exploits cleverly
• The film was paired with Speed Crazy in its original theatrical release, marketed as a double feature for thrill-seeking audiences