Review Courtesy of
Hud
Not Dove Family-Approved
Reviewer: Edwin L. Carpenter Source: Video Company: Paramount Home Video Writer: Larry McMurty Director: Martin Ritt Producer: Irving Ravetch Genre: Western Runtime: 111 min. MPAA Rating: Unrated Starring: Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal, Brandon de Wilde, Whit Bissell, Crahan Denton, John Ashley, Val Avery, George Petrie, Curt Conway
Synopsis:
Martin Ritt successfully transforms a Larry McMurtry novel into a contemporary Western set on a Texas ranch where Cadillacs, cattle and transistor radios threaten to displace time-honored cowboy ways. Paul Newman stars as arrogant, rebellious farmhand Hud Bannon, who's constantly at odds with his old-school father, Homer (Melvyn Douglas, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar). Patricia Neal also won an Oscar for her role in the film.
Dove Worldview:
Hud Bannon(Paul Newman) is the type of man who only thinks about himself. His selfishness has driven a wedge between his father Homer (Melvyn Douglas) and himself. Hud was in a car accident years before in which he didn't receive a scratch but his brother died. Homer has a good relationship with his dead son's child, Lonnie. Lonnie cares about his Uncle Hud but, like his grandfather, doesn't understand him. Hud becomes interested in inheriting the family ranch, even if he has to force his father to retire early.
This film demonstrates powerfully what can happen when a man lives like an island, with no thought of others. Paul Newman plays the lead role very well. Unfortunately, there is a scene in which the worldly Hud attempts to force himself on the family's maid (Patricia Neal) and there are a few sexual innuendos as well. It is enough to cross our line of acceptability for a family-friendly film and therefore we are unable to award our Dove Seal to this picture.
Sex: Implied sex between single man and married woman; single man and married woman go out in public together; kissing; man tries to force himself on woman until he is stopped; a few innuendos; a character says he asks women when their husbands are coming home; a woman is kissed on her neck.
Language: D-5; H-8; B-2; Butt-2; C*ap-1
Violence: A character shoots at buzzards; a character rams another vehicle with his truck; a fight in the bar.
Drugs: The purchase of beer; drinking beer as passenger in car; character gets very drunk; talk about being drunk; smoking of pipe and cigarettes; a minor drinks.
Nudity: Cleavage; shirtless man.
Other: A character speeds in his car; a man faces ruin when his cattle develop a disease; the subject of death is featured.
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