A middling Western, The Rare Breed at least gets points for focusing on an unusual (for a Hollywood Western) subject -- the cross-breeding of cattle, actually a very important chapter in the creation and sustenance of the American West. This in itself, of course, is not enough to sustain an entire film, and so screenwriter Richard Hardman has created a story that has all the elements for action and suspense. It has all the elements, as I say -- but somehow the elements don't really come together in a satisfying way. You watch Breed and understand how all the parts fit together, but they feel forced. At its heart, Breed seems to want to be less about plot and more about character, especially the character of Sam Burnett. But Burnett isn't interesting enough or complex enough to carry that much weight, which causes Breed to get a little bogged down. Andrew V. McLaglen's hamhanded direction doesn't help matters, especially when he goes overboard during the climactic search for the calf scene. As Burnett, Jimmy Stewart is good, but not as good as one expects him to be; he seems a bit distanced from the character. Maureen O'Hara comes off much better, as does Brian Keith (in spite of a sometimes-bizarre accent), but the best performance is Juliet Mills', which is fresh and engaging, and which mines humor that others might have missed.