Hud (1963)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Larry McMurtry (novel)
Irving Ravetch (writer) ...

Release Date:

29 May 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Tagline:

The man with the barbed wire soul!

Plot:

Hud Bannon is a ruthless young man who tarnishes everything and everyone he touches. Hud represents the perfect embodiment of alienated youth...

Plot Keywords:

Bus Stop | Second Generation | Kiwanis | Alcoholism | Small Town Life

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Hud Bannon
Melvyn Douglas	...	Homer Bannon
Patricia Neal	...	Alma Brown
Brandon De Wilde	...	Lon 'Lonnie' Bannon (as Brandon de Wilde)
Whit Bissell	...	Mr. Burris
Crahan Denton	...	Jesse
John Ashley	...	Hermy
Val Avery	...	Jose
George Petrie	...	Joe Scanlon
Curt Conway	...	Truman Peters
Sheldon Allman	...	Mr. Thompson
Pitt Herbert	...	Mr. Larker
Carl Low	...	Mr. Kirby
Robert Hinkle	...	Rodeo Announcer Frank
Don Kennedy	...	Charlie Tucker

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:12 (1998) (uncut) | UK:A (1963) (cut) | USA:Approved (certificate #20308) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-15 (new rating: 2001) | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M | Australia:PG (alternate rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16

Filming Locations:

Camp Waldemar - 1005 Ranch Road 1340, Hunt, Texas, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The novel "Exodus" is briefly but clearly visible on the paperback rack in the pharmacy scene. Paul Newman had starred in the film of the novel (Exodus (1960)) three years earlier.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: As Lon exits diner in opening scene, radio announcer says time is "6:26" a.m. - but lack of long shadows clearly identifies time as near noon.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lonnie Bannon: OK, thanks for the lift.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' (1970)

Soundtrack:

The Great Titanic (It Was Sad When That Great Ship Went Down)

Forget Paul Newman and focus on Melvyn Douglas

As a native of West Texas, I think this film is one of the finest in American cinema. You don't watch a movie - you experience a real time and place. I happen to love a bunch of Paul Newman's films (The 3 H's - Hud, Hombre and Harper; Cool Hand Luke; The Sting; The Hustler; The Color of Money...), but I'm not what you'd call a rabid fan. I think he is compelling, but has a fairly limited range. He is perfect in this role, but it isn't much different from The Hustler or Cool Hand Luke. However, watching Melvyn Douglas is like watching somebody that Marty Ritt pulled off of some ranch and filmed in his daily life. His performance is absolutely dead- on. The gravelly drawl, the old boy shuffle, his expression - the way his eyes take in the landscape or gaze intently into a bowl of ice cream while Hud talks - all incredibly REAL! I KNOW those old guys!

Melvyn Douglas is a truly under-appreciated American acting genius whose career spanned over 5 decades. His range is tremendous. This is the same honey-tongued actor who is the perfect comic foil to Garbo's Ninotchka in the '30's (In fact, he is one of her only REPEAT leading men!) And his bluster-filled performance in I Never Sang for My Father (with another modern great, Gene Hackman) is also out of this world! Other commentators have addressed Hud's multi-faceted story and the incredible B&W cinematography. All wonderful - but the next time you watch this true American classic, focus on Douglas' Oscar-winning performance. You will be amazed! (And remind yourself of some of the early roles in romantic comedies - Ninotchka, That Uncertain Feeling, This Thing Called Love or Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House - this same actor performed so well.)