Hud

Hud Bannon, played by Paul Newman, is a ruthless young man who tarnishes everything and everyone he touches. He represents the perfect embodiment of alienated youth, out for kicks with no regard for the consequences. There is bitter conflict between Hud's callous nature and his stern and highly principled father, Homer. The story centers on the ongoing conflict between Homer Bannon, played by Melvyn Douglas, an elderly and principled cattle rancher, and Hud, his arrogant and unscrupulous son, during an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease which puts the family's ranch at risk. Lonnie, Homer's grandson and Hud's nephew, played by Brandon De Wilde, is caught in the center of the conflict and forced to choose between his two family members. Hud premieres as a study of a creep, with a flowing narrative that explores the complexities of their relationships, particularly the contrast between Hud's selfishness and Homer's principle.