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There is a reason why people like/liked Paul Newman's character of Hud

posted 9 years ago by gutz1981
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True he was portrayed as somewhat of a selfish prick in a way. (In a lot of ways actually.) But when it came to the ranch and his father, he had a right to want to make sure all those years he invested on the ranch payed off. As he said, he put 24 of his 34 years into that place. Although it belonged to his father, the old man had to know you don't make a son put in that much commitment and time only to treat it as if it ain't none of his business until he dies. Buying that heard of sick cattle from Mexico destroyed if not severally crippled that ranch and any means of a future. True the old man had a more honest way of living and viewing the world and had wisdom. But the fact that he was just too hard on Hud as his on grandson told him only proves he had a hand in how Hud was raised. If you knew he was no good, than don't make him work for the promise of nothing, tell him to leave and hire extra hands to work the farm. I think it went both ways. His father did not like Hud because he was no good. Hud was no good because his father did not like him. Both were at fault, the old man was not an innocent in this matter. Even when the old man was dying, Hud was truly concerned about saving him, but the old man could not let it go and had to give the final insult. Truth is, the old man had a favorite son and that is all it was, plain and simple. Children always know when a parent has a favorite, and shame on them for for lying and being hypocritical saying they love their offspring all the same.

[–] kbarada 9 years ago

Excellent post gutz (hope it wasn't autobiographical). I always thought along similar lines in that the relationship was closer to real life in families: It was complicated. I think the old man was a decent guy that just could not take Hud's evil ways in regards to his drinking and womanizing. He found it disgusting and distasteful. He was raised apparently under a strict moral code and expected the same from Hud.

I think that is what led to the heart crushing words he had with Hud when he said "no boy, I was sick of you a long time before that" in regards to Hud's drinking and killing his brother. Now the father may have had a favorite son, but telling the other son that you were "sick of them" is something that you would not ordinarily tell the other son unless there was good reason.

Anyway, just some thoughts on a very powerful movie.

[–] gutz1981 9 years ago

Ha ha, funny you mention "Autobiographical" I do have some relation to this story. But in a different fashion. Any way. You raise some good points yourself. I am not too sure that the old man was exactly raised in a strict manner and moral code. The old man kind of encouraged his grandson to be going out and looking for women himself, like he said in the cinema and he did let the boy go out with Hud to have a night out. Not to say he wanted him to be a womanizer like Hud. Though he was not impressed when he saw them both drunk.

The old man in my opinion went that step too far by telling Hud he was sick of him for long ways back. The whole thing almost seemed like the old man just kept Hud on to use him as it were to look after the ranch and was not too keen on what he left behind for him. As if he was more interested in making sure his grandson took up his mantle. I think even the boy knew and saw that the old man had little love for Hud and often questioned why. But by the end the whole pain of losing the old man and watching Hud try and make his way with their housekeeper made him give up on him too.

And yes I agree, this is a powerful movie with no clear cut right or wrong between the old man and Hud.

[–] kbarada 9 years ago

And yes I agree, this is a powerful movie with no clear cut right or wrong between the old man and Hud.

Yep, that's why I say it's complicated inside families. Unless we lived it, it is always more complicated than one can fathom from the outside looking in.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] kbarada 9 years ago

You make some good points here kurtm, especially your last statement:

The problem was with Hud. He didn't know how to forgive and he didn't care to learn how let alone admit HIS OWN moral shortcomings.

I think you can add to that Hud's deep seated guilt about his brother's death. I think he beat himself up more than anyone else.