The Rare Breed (1966)

Running Time: 97 mins
Genre: Western

Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Stars: James Stewart, Maureen O'Hara, Brian Keith

This is not your usual Western, in fact its not really much of a western at all, it has a few of the defining features, cowboy types, cattle drives, guns and horses. But really it stands on its own, the story centres around an English bull called Vindicator.

Sound strange.... yeah it kinda is, but with a cast like this one who cares. Maureen O'Hara plays Martha Price a headstrong English woman who's husband has died on the way to America to fulfil their dream of introducing English cattle into the American West. Martha and her daughter Hilary (Juliette Mills on top form) intend to carry out this plan. They meet Sam 'Bulldog' Burnett (Stewart) who is enlisted to help them cross the country with the Bull to get it to its new owner safely. He however is being paid by an alternative group of questionable men to get the bull to them.

So here starts the Western part of the story; Martha, Hilary and Sam travel across the plains on their way to Texas. However they have a ruthless man on their tale who intends to take the bull by force if necessary. There are many fist fights in this film, one or two too many, once you've seen one your really set for the rest of the movie, there at least four in The Rare Breed. All proving that, yes James Stewart can be a tough guy too, he changes heart on the trip and decides to help the two women. On the road they help a young man named Jamie who gets injured by stampeding cattle and happens to be the son of Vindicator's new owner. Another check to the list young man, young girl, romance likely to ensue (my favourite parts).

They take Jamie and the bull back home to Scottish settler Alexander Bowen (an unrecognisable Keith) he looks similar to a hermit and probably smells like one too. Used to getting his own way he is struck dumb by this feisty woman who puts him in his place immediately with a good slap. He doesn't seem to want Vindicator and is determined that introducing Hereford calves in the current climate would be impossible. Which leads to the question, if he doesn't want the bull and the last hour has been about getting the bull to him, why on earth is the bull in the story at all except to set up the location and relationships of the characters. It makes Vindicator a bit null and void to be honest, the rest of the story seems slightly pointless after hearing Bowen's views.

Sam Burnett has had a change of heart during the travelling and he cares for Martha and is determined to see them succeed even when Hilary and Martha give up themselves. Bowen in the meantime cleans himself up, looking slightly more like the Brian Keith we are used to, and intends to marry Martha. Despite her having feelings for Sam. But like all good films everything has a way of working itself out in the end.

I absolutely love Maureen O'Hara, she is such a great role model for women. What I love about her is that in an era where female roles were mostly confined to damsels and understudies for men, especially in Westerns, Maureen O'Hara was out there playing determined fiery women who could stand up for themselves and stand equally next to the men. Which is exactly what she does in The Rare Breed, though much more relaxed than usual. James Stewart plays the western character he perfected during his career, grizzled on the outside but with a good heart which shines through with a bit of a push. Juliette Mills plays a great role in this film, though I'm partial to the other sister (Hayley) I did enjoy her performance as the honest no nonsense daughter who like her mother could stand up for herself against the men. She also had a very touching relationship with Vindicator the bull (who only listens to those whistling God Save the Queen).

Check it out, 7/10 for this one. Not at all what I expected, but a nice simple film, a mix of genres and with great stars doing what they do best.....shining.