Hud (1963)
Starring: PN, Patricia Neal, Melvyn Douglas, Brandon deWildeDirected by: Martin Ritt
Summary: Hud Bannon is a guy who "just didn't give a damn about anyone"—"the man with the barbed wire soul". The son of a Texas cattleman (Melvyn Douglas), his nephew Lon (Brandon DeWilde) idolizes his uncle Hud, even if he doesn't fully understand the effects of his behavior. Alma (Patricia Neal) is their housekeeper who's wise to Hud's maneuvers and despite the fact she is attracted to him, she's smart enough to see through to what he really is. Hud deliberately dismisses his father's integrity and beliefs. When one of their cows is discovered dead of hoof and mouth disease, Hud urges his father to sell the lot before the government inspectors come and destroy them all. Hud declares his father senile and takes over the ranch. After a drunken night on the town, Hud returns home and tries to force himself on Alma, but they are interrupted by Lon. Alma leaves the next day, and the father dies of heart failure, Lon sets out on his own to make his own way, and in the final scene, Hud, is alone, perched on the porch as if nothing had happened.Quote: Hud: "The only question I ever ask any woman is 'What time is your husband coming home?'"
Trivia: In preparation for the role, PN worked on a Texas cattle ranch for several weeks.
Nominated for his 3rd Best Actor Oscar, Newman announced before the ceremony that he would be skipping the festivities and rooting for friend (and eventual winner) Sidney Poitier to win for Lilies of the Field.
The Newman Factor:10. One of my favorites.
Rating: 10. Melvyn Douglas and Patricia Neal both won Oscars for their performances.
Interesting notes: Rebekah Blu interviewed Patricia Neal in 2008/2009 for an article in Martha's Vineyard Magazine, here are some PLN related responses to her questions:
Rebekah: If you could have been a man, what actor’s career would you have liked to have experienced?
Patricia: Well, I don’t know because we actors are not the happiest people. I’m happy, but some actors live such terrible lives. [Takes time to really think it through.] But I’ll tell you who: I saw him first at the Actors Studio, and I looked up and saw this man one row away from me and I couldn’t stop looking at him. He was gorgeous! [Voice gets quieter.] Paul Newman. This was before we were cast in Hud together. I didn’t even know him then. He’s a beautiful man. I liked him very much.
Rebekah: Speaking of male co-stars, what was your best screen kiss?
Patricia: Well, of course I was in love with Gary Cooper. But you don’t kiss like that on screen – a real kiss wouldn’t look good on screen. [Makes a funny face.] I pretty much liked working with all my male co-stars, with the exception of the one [George Peppard] in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. He had gotten so conceited [puts her nose in the air] and was afraid I’d upstage him.
Rebekah: Of all the characters that you’ve played, which one would you most want to befriend, if you could bring that character to life?
Patricia: I’d say the one in Hud. I liked her very much. She was originally written for a black woman, but they didn’t think America was ready for that yet. I guess they weren’t. They didn’t think audiences would want to see Paul Newman with a black woman.
Rebekah: Well, you were perfect for the part and have an Oscar to prove it. Kind of a clichéd question, but where does your Oscar live?
Patricia: In New York. I’ve got a lot of shelves and a lot of awards and so the Oscar is there. It’s fantastic. I used to love to show it to people, ’cause you’d shake it and it would make a noise. A fantastic noise.
