Based on a novel by Larry McMurtry who specialized in stories about the decline and decay of the old west. 'The Last Picture Show', another of McMurtry's novels, was made into a famous film by Peter Bogdanovich which has a similar look and tone to this movie. Patricia Neal as Alma is outstanding.
My grandfather and I used to fight and argue daily when I was younger Right around the time I turned 18 I was shocked and amazed at how smart my Pap Had “ suddenly “ become Later he was my Best Man at my wedding His knowledge based on his experiences helped me through life more than I could ever have dreamed I admire him still May his soul rest in peace
If you enjoyed Paul & Robert in 1969's Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, you should give 1973's The Sting a viewing where they play a couple of 1930's con men who go up against a gangster & his mob. It's dramatic & comedic. While not his first movie, I think hid "break out" roll was in 1956's "Somebody Up There Likes Me" where he played young pro boxer Rocky Graziano (based on Rocky's early life.)
The ending reminds me of the end of The Godfather Part II. Two unprincipled men left to ponder the ways in which they have turned their back on decency and alienated those who could have loved them.
Thanks for a great reaction and analysis, as always, guys! One of my favorite films and it is very much Lon's story, as you said. Also, yes, very much a repudiation of the kind of toxic, abrasive men that traditional westerns lionize, all the more remarkable for being made in the era of the traditional western. I also love the stunning B&W cinematography of James Wong Howe. So many frames are just beautifully artistic. This film received seven Oscar nominations and won three-: Best Actress for Patricia Neal, Best Supporting Actor for Melvyn Douglas, and Best Cinematography for James Wong Howe.
You have the right of it, the journey isn’t Hud’s but Lonnie’s loss of innocence and the hero worship that he had for Hud and finally seeing him for who he is. What makes the movie great is that subversion of expectations especially with Paul Newman in the lead. At the time this was made he was one of the biggest stars in the world and had been for over a decade so you would walk into the theatre thinking he was going to be the hero. But Newman was never afraid of a challenge and had played the antihero before, particularly in “The Hustler.” This very dark film was enormously popular and successful when it was released and showered in Oscar nominations (Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Screenplay, Art Direction and Cinematography) winning three for Actress (Patricia Neal), Supporting Actor (Melvyn Douglas-Hud’s father) and Cinematography. It’s a shame that Brandon deWilde who played Lonnie wasn’t likewise honored because he is the match of any of the others. He had risen to prominence as a child actor in the classic Western “Shane” and was transitioning here to more adult roles. He struggled a bit afterward with that transition but was a well-respected performer until his death at only 30 in a car accident. A film similar in tone to this also starring Patricia Neal is 1957’s “A Face in the Crowd” about a massively popular entertainer who becomes drunk with his own power and becomes a monstrously dangerous man. The film was incredibly prescient about the rise and influence of the media. As I said Paul Newman rose to fame in the 50’s and after a rocky start with his first film (The Silver Chalice-a film he hated so much and thought he was so bad in that he took out a newspaper ad apologizing to the public when it was first shown on television!) he rose to the top within a couple of years and stayed there until his death almost 50 years later. Like all great stars he made some lemons but most of his films (some of which he directed as well) are worth seeking out. Aside from the aforementioned “The Hustler” I’d recommend: The Sting (a reteaming with Robert Redford after Butch Cassidy) a wonderful caper film that won the Best Picture Oscar. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof-A Tennessee Williams adaptation costarring Elizabeth Taylor. The Long, Hot Summer-The first of many films he made with his wife Joanne Woodward, a great actress in her own right. Sweet Bird of Youth-Another Tennessee Williams adaptation and another antihero role. The Prize-Fun Hitchcockian thriller. Harper-A cool P.I. mystery Cool Hand Luke-A contest of wills prison drama. The Towering Inferno-One of the big three flicks (along with Airport & The Poseidon Adventure) that made the disaster genre an established gold mine for a while.
This is the only reaction to this movie I've found on you tube. And you guys did a great job! This movie solidified Paul Newman as a mega movie star when it came out. Believe it or not, a lot of people thought of Hud as being a hero, or at least an anti-hero. He was seen as charming & dashing. He drank good, he fought good, he was wanted by women. And yet he was a complete A-hole. And although it may not seem like Hud got his comeuppance at the end, actually he did. He had turned his father's ranch into a ghost town & he was completely & utterly alone, as a result of him having driven everyone away.
Movie recommendation: Shot Caller (2017) starring Nikolaj-Coster Waldau (Jamie Lannister you know) and Jon Bernthal, among many others. Regular family man Waldau makes a mistake and finds himself in a California state prison, and once inside it's sink or swim. Movie starts with him being released and we follow his efforts to complete a deal he can't back out from, and his time in prison is told in flashbacks. It's just a raw, unmerciful look into some parts of the US prison system and what it does to people. Great performances all around, with a haunting score. The last movie that had me this gripped was Sicario (2015), and that's saying something.
If you like Paul Newman watch "Cat on hot tin roof" with Elizabeth Taylor, and "The long hot summer", both he plays kind of a villain, and wise guy. On the set of the Long hot summer, he met his wife Joanne Woodward, who is a great actress, they had one of Hollywoods longest and most succesful marriage.
Dang… You guys watch excellent movies.. This was my mother’s favorite Paul Newman performance, and it’s probably his best.. Although I play pool and The Hustler is probably his best film.. Melvyn Douglas and Patricia Neal were just amazing in this film too..
Based on a novel by Larry McMurtry who specialized in stories about the decline and decay of the old west. 'The Last Picture Show', another of McMurtry's novels, was made into a famous film by Peter Bogdanovich which has a similar look and tone to this movie. Patricia Neal as Alma is outstanding.
Patricia Neal had a legendary performance. Good on you guys for watching it. A true classic.
My grandfather and I used to fight and argue daily when I was younger
Right around the time I turned 18 I was shocked and amazed at how smart my Pap
Had “ suddenly “ become
Later he was my Best Man at my wedding
His knowledge based on his experiences helped me through life more than I could ever have dreamed
I admire him still
May his soul rest in peace
FINALLY someone reacts to this classic! The dynamic between Hud & his father Homer is so well acted! Alma & Lonnie were great too 👌🏾🎬🍿
If you enjoyed Paul & Robert in 1969's Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, you should give 1973's The Sting a viewing where they play a couple of 1930's con men who go up against a gangster & his mob. It's dramatic & comedic. While not his first movie, I think hid "break out" roll was in 1956's "Somebody Up There Likes Me" where he played young pro boxer Rocky Graziano (based on Rocky's early life.)
such a powerful film in every aspect...one of the best.....the dialogue, that Texas vernacular, is just amazing. nice to see someone react to it.
The ending reminds me of the end of The Godfather Part II. Two unprincipled men left to ponder the ways in which they have turned their back on decency and alienated those who could have loved them.
I can't believe you guys did "Hud"! I think you're the first! I'm out of town until later today/tomorrow, can't wait to check this out!!
Thanks for a great reaction and analysis, as always, guys! One of my favorite films and it is very much Lon's story, as you said. Also, yes, very much a repudiation of the kind of toxic, abrasive men that traditional westerns lionize, all the more remarkable for being made in the era of the traditional western. I also love the stunning B&W cinematography of James Wong Howe. So many frames are just beautifully artistic.
This film received seven Oscar nominations and won three-: Best Actress for Patricia Neal, Best Supporting Actor for Melvyn Douglas, and Best Cinematography for James Wong Howe.
All well deserved Oscar wins.
You have the right of it, the journey isn’t Hud’s but Lonnie’s loss of innocence and the hero worship that he had for Hud and finally seeing him for who he is.
What makes the movie great is that subversion of expectations especially with Paul Newman in the lead. At the time this was made he was one of the biggest stars in the world and had been for over a decade so you would walk into the theatre thinking he was going to be the hero. But Newman was never afraid of a challenge and had played the antihero before, particularly in “The Hustler.”
This very dark film was enormously popular and successful when it was released and showered in Oscar nominations (Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Screenplay, Art Direction and Cinematography) winning three for Actress (Patricia Neal), Supporting Actor (Melvyn Douglas-Hud’s father) and Cinematography.
It’s a shame that Brandon deWilde who played Lonnie wasn’t likewise honored because he is the match of any of the others. He had risen to prominence as a child actor in the classic Western “Shane” and was transitioning here to more adult roles. He struggled a bit afterward with that transition but was a well-respected performer until his death at only 30 in a car accident.
A film similar in tone to this also starring Patricia Neal is 1957’s “A Face in the Crowd” about a massively popular entertainer who becomes drunk with his own power and becomes a monstrously dangerous man. The film was incredibly prescient about the rise and influence of the media.
As I said Paul Newman rose to fame in the 50’s and after a rocky start with his first film (The Silver Chalice-a film he hated so much and thought he was so bad in that he took out a newspaper ad apologizing to the public when it was first shown on television!) he rose to the top within a couple of years and stayed there until his death almost 50 years later. Like all great stars he made some lemons but most of his films (some of which he directed as well) are worth seeking out.
Aside from the aforementioned “The Hustler” I’d recommend:
The Sting (a reteaming with Robert Redford after Butch Cassidy) a wonderful caper film that won the Best Picture Oscar.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof-A Tennessee Williams adaptation costarring Elizabeth Taylor.
The Long, Hot Summer-The first of many films he made with his wife Joanne Woodward, a great actress in her own right.
Sweet Bird of Youth-Another Tennessee Williams adaptation and another antihero role.
The Prize-Fun Hitchcockian thriller.
Harper-A cool P.I. mystery
Cool Hand Luke-A contest of wills prison drama.
The Towering Inferno-One of the big three flicks (along with Airport & The Poseidon Adventure) that made the disaster genre an established gold mine for a while.
Newman deserved an Oscar for this performance. He was amazing.
Paul Newman is one actor who can play a jerk and you still like him. That is acting.
This is the only reaction to this movie I've found on you tube. And you guys did a great job! This movie solidified Paul Newman as a mega movie star when it came out. Believe it or not, a lot of people thought of Hud as being a hero, or at least an anti-hero. He was seen as charming & dashing. He drank good, he fought good, he was wanted by women. And yet he was a complete A-hole. And although it may not seem like Hud got his comeuppance at the end, actually he did. He had turned his father's ranch into a ghost town & he was completely & utterly alone, as a result of him having driven everyone away.
This was written by the late great Texas author Larry McMurtry. He wrote Terms of Endearment & my all time favorite western Lonesome Dove.
Movie recommendation: Shot Caller (2017) starring Nikolaj-Coster Waldau (Jamie Lannister you know) and Jon Bernthal, among many others. Regular family man Waldau makes a mistake and finds himself in a California state prison, and once inside it's sink or swim. Movie starts with him being released and we follow his efforts to complete a deal he can't back out from, and his time in prison is told in flashbacks. It's just a raw, unmerciful look into some parts of the US prison system and what it does to people. Great performances all around, with a haunting score. The last movie that had me this gripped was Sicario (2015), and that's saying something.
Next do The Last Picture Show
A really good western with Paul Newman is the 1967 “Hombre”
If you like Paul Newman watch "Cat on hot tin roof" with Elizabeth Taylor, and "The long hot summer", both he plays kind of a villain, and wise guy. On the set of the Long hot summer, he met his wife Joanne Woodward, who is a great actress, they had one of Hollywoods longest and most succesful marriage.
Sadly this is not a documentary about the first Heads Up Display.
This is a great movie.
Absolutely. I see it as a sort of morality play and incredibly powerful.
Cool Hand Luke , The Long Hot Summer & Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Elizabeth Taylor is a classic.
Recommended: "The Hustler" from 1961. Newman returns to the character in "The Color of Money."
Dang… You guys watch excellent movies.. This was my mother’s favorite Paul Newman performance, and it’s probably his best.. Although I play pool and The Hustler is probably his best film..
Melvyn Douglas and Patricia Neal were just amazing in this film too..
Yeah, The Hustler is a great movie.
Props to Patricia Neal in this also.
If you are female just about anything about Paul Newman was appealing, which goes for most of his movies as well.