Search - The Rare Breed on DVD

Fine Performances By Stewart and O'Hara

Patrick Doherty | Birmingham, Alabama, USA | 08/07/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THE RARE BREED is a film about the delivery of a white-faced Hereford bull from England to the Texas range for breeding purposes. The man responsible for the task is James Stewart. The women who own the bull are Maureen O'Hara and her daughter played by Juliet Mills. THE RARE BREED is a fairly good Western with strong performances by Stewart and O'Hara. A fine supporting cast includes Brian Keith, Don Galloway and David Brian.Andrew V. McLaglen directed many other good movies such as MCLINTOCK and SHENANDOAH."

Fair but not Good

John A Lee III | San Antonio, TX | 09/09/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This film has some first rate talent. Jimmy Stewart and Maureen O'Hara are first rate stars and they made first rate westerns but this is not one of them. It is merely passable.



Maureen O'Hara plays a British widow whose husband was a cattle breeder in Herefordshire. They have brought their prize Hereford bull to the American west in an effort to both make money and improve the wild longhorn cattle being raised in the American west. The two women are about the only ones who have faith in the breed. Everyone else seems to think they cannot survive the harsh conditions in America.



Jimmy Stewart plays a cowboy hired to get the bull to its purchaser. He is also hired to steal the bull for someone else. When he is unexpectedly accompanied by women his plans go awry because they are very strong willed and because he is beginning to fall in love with Maureen.



In time, even the women lose faith in the bull but Jimmy Stewart does have faith. Good triumphs over evil and faithfulness pays off. That is the old western formula. The part of the formula that is missing is excitement and interest. All in all, it is just barely passable.

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A Western which misses fire by not coming down firmly as eit

Roberto Frangie | Leon, Gto. Mexico | 11/06/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Under the direction of Andrew V. McLaglen, who understood the John Ford mystique, "The Rare Breed" is a Western of consummate integrity which misses fire by not coming down firmly as either drama or comedy; it does however pass the time amiably enough...



Stewart again plays a cynical, hard-bitten man who has become disillusioned with human nature... But his insight and understanding are well transmitted...



The title refers to a certain breed of cattle, and not to men, rare, courageous, or other-wise...



O'Hara is an Englishwoman who comes to America with her daughter, Juliet Mills, bringing a prize Hereford bull named Vindicator... Her husband has died on the way, and she is delivering the bull to a cattle baron (Brian Keith) in Dodge City... Her late husband has always declared that the Hereford could be successfully interbred with the indigenous American Longhorns...



Originally Stewart had planned to kidnap the bull and hand it over to a rival dealer, but he falls under the spell of O'Hara's womanly integrity, and becomes her ally... Soon a triangle is set up between Stewart, O'Hara and Keith, with predictable results...



The dramatic elements are not totally neglected in the film... The rivalry between the ranchers, the poignant situation of the young lovers, O'Hara's attempts to set right to the surroundings that she, a new widow, finds extraneous, are all set forth skillfully by McLaglen's directorial hand...



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A different kind of story whose title might have more meanin

Craig Matteson | Ann Arbor, MI | 07/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is an odd story for a Western and largely works because of Jimmy Stewart, but a movie with Maureen O'Hara in it is also a good bet. Brian Keith does add a good strong character to this film as well. In 1966 he was also beginning a nice run on the TV show "Family Affair". The title of this movie, "The Rare Breed" has multiple meanings and really provides the key to what the movie is about.



The obvious title reference is to the specially bred Hereford bull that an Englishman named Price wants to introduce to the American West. He is traveling with his wife and daughter and dies during the trip. His widow (Maureen O'Hara) and daughter (Juliet Mills) intend to fulfill his dream and engage Sam Burnett (Jimmy Stewart) to help them deliver the bull. Of course, there are plenty of obstacles including bad men who need a good beating and then to be shot, which Burnett provides for them.



Then the rare breed could refer to the manly men who are settling the West while more timid men enjoy softer life in the City. This could be Sam Burnett or the raging Scotsman, Alexander Bowen (Brian Keith), or the other tough men braving the desert and freezing cold and living the hard life.



But the rare breed could also be the mother and daughter that are as out of place as their Hereford Bull. Martha and Hilary Price represent a kind of change and domestication to the West as their new bull does. The issue is will the bull survive long enough to breed in the hostile environment and will the women find reasons to stay out West or will they reject the horrid conditions and return home.



Really, a different kind of Western, but a good story and quite enjoyable."