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
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