Martin Ritt’s revisionist Western is set on a typical Texan cattle ranch. It’s owned and run by Homer Bannon (Melvin Douglas), who lives there with son Hud (Newman), his orphaned grandson Lonnie (Brandon deWilde), and attractive housekeeper Alma (Patricia Neal). An outbreak of disease among the herd brings father and son into conflict, with the younger man’s shady suggestions of how best to proceed in sharp contrast to his father’s morals and ethics. As Hud begins to exert more influence on Lonnie and plots to usurp Homer, matters come to a grim and tragic end. Both Douglas and Neal won Oscars for their roles, as did James Wong Howe for his stunning black-and-white cinematography, though Newman was left empty-handed for the third time.

Screening as part of the Paul Newman: American Icon season.