We have started a Patreon page with the hopes that some of our followers would be willing to donate a small amount to keep DVDBeaver alive. We are a tiny niche, so your generosity is vital to our existence.

We are talking about a minimum of $0.10 - $0.15 a day, perhaps a quarter (or more) to those who won't miss it from their budget. It equates to buying DVDBeaver a coffee once, twice or a few times a month. You can then participate in our monthly Silent auctions, and have exclusive access to many 'bonus' High Resolution screen captures - both 4K UHD and Blu-ray (see HERE).

To those that are unfamiliar, Patreon is a secure/verified third-party service where users can agree to a monthly donation via credit card or PayPal by clicking the button below.


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Rancho Bravo" or "Rancho River")

 

directed by Andrew V. McLaglen
USA 19
65

 

From Andrew V. McLaglen, the acclaimed director of Shenandoah, The Way West, The Devil’s Brigade, Chisum, Ffolkes and The Wild Geese, comes this epic western based on America’s acquisition of English Hereford cattle (which would phase out Texas longhorns). In the 1880s, Englishwoman Martha Price (Maureen O’Hara, The Quiet Man, Lisbon) and her daughter Hilary (Juliet Mills, Avanti!) come to America to sell their prize Hereford bull at an auction. When he is purchased by Bowen, a wild Scotsman (Brian Keith, Something Big), the women hire a footloose cowhand named Burnett (James Stewart, Bend of the River, Night Passage) to help them transport the animal to its new owner. So begins an adventure that tests the mettle of all involved as they battle killers, stampedes and each other. But when they reach Bowen’s ranch, even greater obstacles force them to summon up extraordinary courage, if they, and the prize bull, are to survive. This wonderful frontier comedy co-stars western legends Ben Johnson (The Wild Bunch), Jack Elam (Support Your Local Gunfighter) and Harry Carey Jr. (Man of the East).

***

Born into the Ford/Wayne axis as the son of Victor, McLaglen was steeped in Western lore from an early age, and graduated through teleseries like Gunsmoke and Have Gun - Will Travel to a string of features hymning the old generic simplicities in their twilight. His features with Wayne tended to be as reactionary as the Duke himself (a predilection subsequently confirmed in work like The Wild Geese), but this effort about O'Hara's attempts to cross a Hereford bull with Texas longhorn stock is innocuously banal. And the human supporting cast just about make it worthwhile.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 2nd, 1966 (Fort Worth, Texas)

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Universal (Westerns Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Universal (Westerns Collection) Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC Universal (Stewart Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:36:39         1:36:39  1:37:03.817
Video 2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.56 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.56 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 32,665,362,990 bytes

Feature: 30,415,724,544 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.92 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Original:

Bitrate: Stewart Boxset

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)  English (Dolby Digital 2.0) 

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1554 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1554 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English (CC), Spanish, French, None English (CC), Spanish, French, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Universal (Westerns Collection) Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 2.35:1

Edition Details:

• Theatrical trailer (2:11)

DVD Release Date: May 6th, 2003
Keep Case
Chapters: 20

 

Release Information:
Studio: Universal (Westerns Collection) Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 2.35:1

Edition Details:

• Theatrical  trailer - 2:11

set contains - Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed

DVD Release Date: May 20th, 2008

Slim transparent Case (6 inside box)
Chapters:
20

Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 32,665,362,990 bytes

Feature: 30,415,724,544 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.92 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

NEW Audio Commentary by Film Critic and Author Simon Abrams
Theatrical Trailer (2:12 - SD)


Blu-ray Release Date:
March 10th, 2020
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (February 2020): Kino have transferred the Jimmy Stewart western The Rare Breed to Blu-ray. It looks very impressive with vibrant colors (warmer skin tones - like the DVD there is a touch of green hue), frequent depth and crisp detail. There are also some fine film textures. It is notably brighter than the DVDs. The 1080P video image is fabulous in-motion on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate.

NOTE: 42 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in, lossless, PNG format) are available for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's western audio effects (horses, a train and gunfire) and score by John Williams (The Missouri Breaks, War Horse, The Fury, Images, Sleepers, The Cowboys, Conrack, 1979's Dracula) sounding deeper heightening emotion. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray has a new commentary by Simon Abrams who talks about The Rare Breed's off screen baggage, tension between O'Hara and Stewart. he reads from O'Hara's biography referencing Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation, the score by composer John Williams (credit as Johnny Williams) and Stewart's public image, historical aspects of Hereford and Longhorn cattle etc. It's excellent with some very interesting details - not so much on this specific production although he does quote a lot from books. There is also an SD trailer and trailers for other films.

The Rare Breed has some positives but is by no means a masterpiece as you would find of the Mann/Stewart variety. Strong performances and gorgeous landscapes - the story has some weak moments and is certainly not of the macho-western variety with a less than engaging storyline. Still very much worth a viewing for both Stewart fans and western aficionados.  It's a very impressive Blu-ray a/v with an informative commentary. Recommendation to those keen on the genre. 

Gary Tooze

ON THE DVDs: ADDITION: James Stewart - The Western Collection contains Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage and The Rare Breed. These two Rare Breed editions are exactly the same - same 2003-dated VOB files. The only difference is that the cover is now a transparent slimcase with black and white art.

I'd VERY high on this James Stewart - The Western Collection - we've reviewed/compared all titles now (links in paragraph above). For these six western gems the price amounts to $5 a piece which is really a ridiculous deal. Strongly recommended!

ON THE ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Magnificent, clean image -  un-manipulated with original colors. Possibly the best of the Universal Western Collection. Progressive, anamorphic, original 2.35 aspect ratio - original audio and excellent subtitles. What we are missing are some extras. The original trailer has become common place for an addition here, but more is always hoped for. Again, the price is right and the image is worth every penny. out of     

Gary W. Tooze

 


Universal - Region 1 - NTSC

 

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC  TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC  TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC  TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC  TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC  TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC  TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 
Box Cover

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Universal (Westerns Collection) Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC Universal (Stewart Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 

 


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!