Hud | Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas

Hud | Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas | You're a sociopath, Hud

DVDs:

Hud

	Hud Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas Paramount Pictures, 2003 average customer review:based on 63 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Newman plays a man at odds with his father, tradition and himself. His father is an old-line cattle rancher and Newman is the son whose only interests are fighting, drinking, hot-rodding and womanizing.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: NR
Release Date: 2-DEC-2003
Media Type: DVD

Major Babe......

...one of Newman's finest, bless his heart. Paul couldn't do a bad job of acting if he tried. Dang good film.

You're a sociopath, Hud

"Hud" is one of Newman's greatest movies but, interestingly, I find his father, the old man, more compelling. Hud, as his old father notes, has his share of charm and even guts but he has no soul. He doesn't care. He doesn't care about people and lives only for himself. He uses others, especially women, but ultimately he is his own worst enemy and his reward is a emptiness.

Initially, Lonnie, his 17 y.o. nephew admires him and wants to be Hud's kind of man. Gradually, perhaps inevitably, the nephew learns all too much about Hud both from his grandfather and Hud's own selfish and reckless behavior. A cow dies. Hud wants to leave the carcass to the buzzards but his father, although he has much to lose, insists on a veterinary examination. The veterinarian suspects hoof-and-mouth, a disease that requires the slaughtering of entire herds. Hud wants to sell off the herd before the veterinarian returns with his report. His father refuses and Hud sees a lawyer to have his father declared incompetent...with Hud as administrator of the estate.

Too late for Hud, the veterinariam returns with a report postive for hoof-and-mouth. We grieve for the old man having to kill his cattle and livelihood in a bulldozer-excavated pit. Hud is disgusted that he couldn't offload the cattle before this happens.

Hud, as usual, gets blind drunk. Then tries to rape the housekeeper. Lonnie has to protect her from his drunken uncle. By this time Lonnie's admiration for his self-centered uncle hits rock bottom. The old man, thrown from a horse, dies of pure discouragement. Lonnie leaves the ranch and doesn't look back. We are left with Hud in an empty house and an empty ranch having a beer and shrugging off his nephew as if it doesn't matter. Of course, nothing ever really matters to Hud, especially not himself.

There are multiple levels that this film can be viewed. We can view Hud as the product of an unloving father but, more correctly I think, Hud is a self-made man, worthy of contempt.

Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico

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Must-have for Paul Newman lovers

Hud is a little-known gem. We've always known about it because it was filmed in the little town where my granddad grew up. As a Paul Newman fan, I also recommend the film itself. As usual, Newman doesn't disappoint in this movie.

The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You

The last time I have had a chance to mention the work of Larry McMurtry, whose novel this movie is adapted from, was a recent review of his The Last Picture Show trilogy (a must read, by the way) concerning the coming of age, mid-life crises and struggles with mortality of a cohort of small town Texas characters, especially one Duane Moore. As usual when I get `high' on an author I like to run through most of his or her work to see where he or she is going with it. Thus, this review of a lesser work turned into an exceptional film is something of an introduction to themes that McMurtry likes to give a work out in his literary efforts. Apparently, when it comes to bring to life the Texas of the 1950's and 1960's either cinematically or in book form your first (and maybe last stop, although I would give Horton Foote some play) is at Mr. McMurtry's doorstep.

Okay, so what is the big deal? Take one young, world weary, cynical handsome and well-built ne'r-do-well 1950's cowboy Paul Newman, complete with Cadillac and cowboy hat (and an eye for the ladies, needless to say). Take one old-time rancher father of said Hud, Melvyn Douglas giving the performance of his life as a man out of step with the times as oil-rich Texas is passing him by. Take one sultry (yes, sultry in a country sort of way) substitute mother as the household cook and drudge. Add, for generational purposes, a young teenage grandson Brandon De Wilde the prototype for later characters that we shall see again in other Texas scenarios by McMurtry. Put them all together with all kinds of family, personal and social tensions and a ranch crisis brought on by an epidemic of cattle hoof and mouth disease. Film it in black and white (a natural medium for 1950's- 1960's modern cowboy movies-think the Misfits) and place it in small town Texas with all its pride, prejudices and customs. Then take a couple of hours to see how a well-written novel and a well-thought out film can mesh as one. This is the Texas of Larry's dreams and ours. Kudos.

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"Horseman, Pass By"

This movie stands in a class reserved for the best of best in western theme films. Based on the book by Larry McMurtry, "Horseman, Pass By", it also features a very credible performance by Brandon DeWilde as Lonnie, grown up from the little boy he once portrayed in another legend, the unforgettable "Shane" which was filmed about 10 years before. Lonnie worships Hud, who is his father's brother, and the realization that this man of his own blood is not of good character, is a concept too deep for him to grasp until the final turn of events mature him past his youth in the course of one day . The events surrounding this relationship are at the core of the storyline, and also at the core of the conflict between Hud and his old father, Homer, played by Melvyn Dougas.

Newman's star was at it's Zenith when he made this movie. His extraordinary talent, independent of his looks, are both showcased as an integral part of the character in this role; and play off each other to his advantage for him in this, what I considered to be one of his best movies. His character assessment of Hud was something that came easy to him; he nailed the selfish, self-centered, narcissistic personality that was the man named Hud.

Melvyn Douglas as the crusty old rancher who has seen the times pass him by, gives a performance truly outstanding as he struggles for his last stand of independence, threatened not only a dread disease that is spreading through his entire herd of cattle, but by his own failing health, seized on by the least respected of his blood kin, Hud, who sees the vulnerability that had never been there open up opportunity at last, and intends to take control of the ranch. The knowledge that he is no longer the man he was in the face of disaster, takes the heart and courage from the old man, the one thing he could always count on before; he is finally at the end of his rope. The interaction between Douglas and Newman is truly remarkable, and the casting could not have been better chosen.

Patricia Neal, unarguably one of the premiere actresses of her era, is perfect in the role of the ranch cook, a "rainy day" woman making her way alone in rough country and lean times; who thinks she has at last found a home with this family and even believes for awhile she can handle the subtle advances of Hud, complicated by her own unspoken physical desire for him - and put it in the proper perspective, since she knows him for what he is; she's seen many like him, but it doesn't occur to her that he will become unmanageable.

I write this review as tribute to them all, on this, the time of Paul Newman's passing to join all the rest of the cast who went before him. Even the ending is one of a kind - the slamming of the old kitchen door.

"Horseman, Pass By"

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