Hud (1963)

Patricia Neal received her first nomination and an Academy Award® as Alma Brown, the down-to-earth and soft-hearted housekeeper in Martin Ritt’s 1963 classic, Hud. Based on the novel “Horseman, Pass By” by Larry McMurtry (The Last Picture Show and Brokeback Mountain), Hud stars Paul Newman as Hud Bannon, the bitter, amoral son of Texas rancher Homer Bannon. This tightly woven story of family relationships, drunkenness, death and dying garnered a total of seven Academy Award nominations and received three Oscars®. Hud also stars Brandon de Wilde as Lon Bannon, Hud’s adolescent, adoring nephew and features beautiful black-and-white photography by James Wong Howe (Body and Soul, The Rose Tattoo).

Paramount Pictures, 1963. Black & White. 112 minutes.

Academy Awards: Actor in a Supporting Role - Melvyn Douglas; Lead Actress - Patricia Neal; Cinematography - James Wong Howe.

Academy Award Nominations: Lead Actor - Paul Newman; Art Direction (Black-and-White) - Art Direction: Hal Pereira, Tambi Larsen; Set Decoration: Sam Comer, Robert Benton; Direction: Martin Ritt; Writing (Screenplay - based on material from another medium) - Irving Ravetch, Harriet Frank, Jr.

Preceded by Animated Short Subject The Critic, featuring Mel Brooks. Produced by Ernest Pintoff. Columbia Pictures. 4 minutes.

Academy Award: Best Short Subject, Cartoon - Ernest Pintoff, producer.