Customer Rating: 
Summary: The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Major Babe......
Comment: ...one of Newman's finest, bless his heart. Paul couldn't do a bad job of acting if he tried. Dang good film.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Must-have for Paul Newman lovers
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: WHERE'S THE BEEF?
Comment: The "beef' lies between Douglas' principles and his son's apparent lack thereof. But, the real stampede begins when the "old man" purchases some infected head, with disastrous results. DeWilde is effective,(10 years after yelling ("goodbye,Shane") as Douglas' grandson, torn between Hud's ideas and those of Douglas. But, Neal really stands out as housemaid, referee, nurse, and flirt. Only too late does she discover that her repressed sexuality is no match for Hud at his drunken worst.In the end, Hud slams the door on the world, seemingly not realizing that it's he who's driven the world away from him. A terrific movie that may draw you back on multiple occasions.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Hod-head
Comment: Just can't go along with all the rave reviewers of this story, most of whom spell out its unpleasant details at great length. Everything about it may be as good and marvellous as they say, but in the end it's an intensely depressing, misery-making, simply feel-bad kind of film. Acting, writing, shooting are all excellent: but the characters and the theme are either deeply unhappy or repellent. There was an aura of corrosive cynicism and disillusion about many movies of this era, starting perhaps with Look Back in Anger, and the British school of kitchen sink, moving West with a variety of American productions, including this one, of course. The obverse of this trend was the birth of Rock and Roll, which took place at about the same time. Perhaps both trends had the rejection of parental values in common, but, frankly, I prefer the Elvis sneer to Hud Bannon's when it comes to offending the wrinkly and righteous. There is positively nothing appealing to me about Hud's personality: he's nothing but a good-looking, sulky, selfish, ill-mannered jerk. Every episode presented, the opening scene, the pointless brawls, the greased pig contest, the ugly rape attempt, the cattle slaughter, the old man's death-rattle, just leave a nasty taste in the mouth.
Summary: The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Major Babe......
Comment: ...one of Newman's finest, bless his heart. Paul couldn't do a bad job of acting if he tried. Dang good film.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Must-have for Paul Newman lovers
Comment: 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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: WHERE'S THE BEEF?
Comment: The "beef' lies between Douglas' principles and his son's apparent lack thereof. But, the real stampede begins when the "old man" purchases some infected head, with disastrous results. DeWilde is effective,(10 years after yelling ("goodbye,Shane") as Douglas' grandson, torn between Hud's ideas and those of Douglas. But, Neal really stands out as housemaid, referee, nurse, and flirt. Only too late does she discover that her repressed sexuality is no match for Hud at his drunken worst.In the end, Hud slams the door on the world, seemingly not realizing that it's he who's driven the world away from him. A terrific movie that may draw you back on multiple occasions.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Hod-head
Comment: Just can't go along with all the rave reviewers of this story, most of whom spell out its unpleasant details at great length. Everything about it may be as good and marvellous as they say, but in the end it's an intensely depressing, misery-making, simply feel-bad kind of film. Acting, writing, shooting are all excellent: but the characters and the theme are either deeply unhappy or repellent. There was an aura of corrosive cynicism and disillusion about many movies of this era, starting perhaps with Look Back in Anger, and the British school of kitchen sink, moving West with a variety of American productions, including this one, of course. The obverse of this trend was the birth of Rock and Roll, which took place at about the same time. Perhaps both trends had the rejection of parental values in common, but, frankly, I prefer the Elvis sneer to Hud Bannon's when it comes to offending the wrinkly and righteous. There is positively nothing appealing to me about Hud's personality: he's nothing but a good-looking, sulky, selfish, ill-mannered jerk. Every episode presented, the opening scene, the pointless brawls, the greased pig contest, the ugly rape attempt, the cattle slaughter, the old man's death-rattle, just leave a nasty taste in the mouth.