The Rare Breed

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The Rare Breed
The Rare Breed DVD cover
Directed by	Andrew V. McLaglen
Produced by	William Alland
Written by	Rich Hardman
Starring	James Stewart Maureen O'Hara
Music by	John Williams
Cinematography	William H. Clothier
Editing by	Russell Schoengarth
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	1966
Running time	97 min.
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Rare Breed is a 1966 western-drama starring James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. Loosely based on the life of rancher William Burgess, the film follows Martha Price's (O'Hara) quest to fulfill her deceased husband's dream of introducing Hereford cattle to the American west.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: plot details follow.

The prize bull named Vindicator is bought at auction at an unprecedented price by Charles Ellsworth, who has come to purchase stock for a wealthy rancher in Texas - Alexander Bowen. An experienced cowhand, Sam Burnett is hired to transport Vindicator to Bowen. Shortly after the train reaches Dodge City, Price's daughter Hilary overhears a conversation between Burnett and two men who are working for an English Hereford breeder, a man called Taylor. Burnett has entered into a deal with Taylor, involving the kidnap of Vindicator by Taylor's men. One of the men, Deke Simons, gets into a fight with Burnett in the saloon. Hilary has just told her mother of the conspiracy, but Price, witnessing the fight, dismisses the idea. Burnett, Price and Hilary travel across country for many miles, and Hilary soon notices a rapport developing between her mother and Mr.Burnett. One night whilst Price and Burnett are brewing coffee over the campfire, a shot knocks over the coffee jug. Burnett quickly dismisses it as a stray shot, although he knows it was a signal from Taylors men. Just before dawn, Hilary catches Burnett almost red handed, as he is about to hand over Vindicator. He wriggles his way out her accusations however, waking her mother to try to prove that he was not up to anything. Once again, Price gives Burnett the benefit of the doubt, although she is becoming uncertain of his honesty. The next day, Taylor's men find a fence which has been hacked through to make way for Price's wagon. The two conclude that Burnett must have double-crossed them. One suggests they should go back to Taylor for orders, but the other, Deke Simons, is determined to catch up with Burnett, as there are three thousand dollars at stake. Simons shoots his companion, and rides on after the wagon. Whilst driving through the canyon, Burnett runs into Jamie Bowen, Alexander Bowen's son, who has stolen a herd of his father's longhorn cattle and is running away to start up his own ranch. Having caught up with Burnett, Simons shoots the cowhand who was helping Jamie drive the cattle, and sets off a stampede. Jamie and Burnett race to save the wagon. Jamie manages to steer the wagon away from the worst danger, overturning it in the process. Having fallen off of the wagon, Jamie tries to escape from the charging cattle by climbing up the walls of the canyon, but they give way, and he falls into the path of the stampede. Burnett hides under the wagon with Price and Hilary until the herd passes. As the dust clears, he runs over to Jamie, who has been badly battered and is unconscious. As he carries him back to the overturned wagon, he sees Simons holding a rifle to Mrs.Price and Hilary. Simons demands the thousand dollars that Burnett was paid by Taylor for the bull. Burnett gave the money to a friend at the cattle auction, so Mrs.Price, gives Simons the money he wants. Instead of taking his thousand, Simons takes all the money Price has, three thousand dollars. While Simons is distracted, Burnett is able to take his rifle from him, which Mrs.Price takes and holds on them both to stop them fighting. Simons is about to draw his pistol, when he sees an opportunity to escape, and quickly mounts his horse and gallops away. Before Price can stop him, Burnett rides after him. Coming to a dead end in the canyon, Simons is forced to turn back, and his and Burnett's horses collide. Simons falls onto a sharp rock and dies instantly. When Burnett returns with the money, Mrs.Price berates him severely for his dishonesty and the trouble he has caused. After a few days of travelling, they reach Bowens ranch. Mrs.Price is disgusted at the cold-hearted way in which Bowen regards his son.