Rating of
3.5/4
"Nobody gets out of life alive."
Arbogast1960 - wrote on 04/20/08
Hud is a fantastic work, less strictly a Western than a character study about the transition from old West to new. Paul Newman is solid, if a bit overwrought, as the title character, a soulless rancher in rural Texas who spends most of his time sleeping with other men's wives and fruitlessly pursuing his housekeeper. Brandon de Wilde is also quite good as his young nephew, a fundamentally good kid who looks up to his uncle and longs for his approval. Melvyn Douglas is superb as Hud's father, stolid and self-righteous, clinging to the old ways and loathing his cad of a son. Best of all is Patricia Neal as the housekeeper--she effortlessly evokes a strong, self-reliant woman, earthy but also tender and vulnerable. The impact of her work may be seen by its receipt of the Best Actress Oscar, despite her limited screen time. Worth a good look, even for those (like myself) who are not Western fans, if for no other reason than to see a wonderful performance by an often overlooked actress.
