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HUD; Movie of the Week
The story of a west Texas farming families battle against circumstances and inability to deal with the past, ‘Hud’ is a modern American masterpiece, dismal, but luminous, it is illustrative of the potential of black and white films, even though it was made just as that era was coming to a close. Homer Bannon is a respected farmer who’s eldest son, Norman, died years ago in an accident and who’s younger son, Hud, is a hell bound disappointment. Norman’s now teenage son Lonnie, whose father died before he was born, lives on the farm and idolizes his cavalier uncle Hud, whilst both Lonnie and Hud feel an attraction to their divorced, discontented but beautiful house keeper Alma. As tragedy continues to befall the Bannon’s, Hud wishes to do some underhanded dirty dealing to keep the farm afloat, and thus preserve his inheritance, but Homer’s stern morality means that there are lines he is not willing to cross, and thus the farm seems to be heading toward financial ruin, albeit morally righteous ruin. Ultimately the adolescent Lonnie is forced to choose between the charming but immoral Hud and the virtuous but stubborn Homer; whilst the perpetually unfortunate Alma is burned up in the fires of Hud’s self-loathing.
ABC 2 is literally blowing our minds of late with their selection of Saturday night cinema, last Saturday they showed the brilliant “To Kill a Mocking Bird,” and they have chosen to follow it up with another masterpiece of mid 20th century American cinema, Martin Ritt’s 1963 classic “Hud.” Granted Saturday night is not the best time for all the fine young cannibals out there to stay in a catch a movie, but those who do will surely be rewarded, be warned though, despite the fact that both are excellent literary adaptations from the same period, Hud processes none of the positivism of To Kill a Mockingbird, viewers will find instead that Ritt’s film is driven by themes of angst and disenchantment.
Based on Larry McMurtry’s book ‘Horsemen Pass By’ the screenplay by Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr is both evocative and cynical, however the film’s true ‘Bravura’ is certainly to be found in the performances of all the principle cast members, De Wilde looks the part as the naïve Lonnie, Melvyn Douglas is excellent as the stoic Homer, as is Patricia Neal as the wounded but inwardly strong Alma; ultimately though, this is Newman’s film, and the actor absolutely steals the show, oozing a very smooth brand of ‘devil may care’ irresponsibility as the titular anti-hero Hud Bannon. Equally charming and vile, Hud stirs up the dust of his small west Texas community as he roars around town in his Pink Cadillac, pursuing his main interests, drinking, fighting and womanizing, in that order. Newman plays Hud with a moving kind of self-deprecating cynicism and selfish immorality, all the while tinged with an unshakable, all encompassing sadness that seems to spread like a plague everywhere Hud goes. As we learn more about his past Newman’s performance forces us to decide weather or not we choose to view Hud as a selfish monster, or a tragically doomed victim of his own life? Either way it is a tough choice, and this is to the great credit of both Newman and Ritt.
Nominated for best picture at the Oscars, Hud won the OCIC Award and was also nominated for the Golden Bear at the Venice film festival in 1963, the film is definitely worth a look.
HUD airs tonight, 8.30 on ABC 2.
10/13 Itches.
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Comments
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Daaaamn! i wish I caught that! I hope Civic has it!