Hud

Paul Newman is Hud, a self-centered, emotionless, immoral cattle rancher--bane of his hard-working, aging father Homer (Melvyn Douglas), and hero to his naive nephew Lon (Brandon de Wilde). When the deadly hoof-and-mouth disease strikes the cattle, Homer calls in the medical authorities--ignoring Hud's suggestion that they sell off the cattle before anyone can discover that the animals are infected. When Hud is not being cruel to his father, he's sleeping around--and much of the story is given over to Hud's ineffectual attempts at wooing their housekeeper, Alma (Patricia Neal). Definitely a downer, but a fascinatingly repugnant portrait of an animal, nonetheless, Martin Ritt's 1963 b&w classic Hud was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Director and Actor (Newman), taking home the gold for Best Actress (Neal), Supporting Actor (Douglas), and Cinematography. Debuting on DVD in an extra-less disc, Hud boasts a beautiful, high contrast widescreen transfer, backed by a Dolby Digital 5.1 or restored mono soundtrack. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)