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A family’s downfall becomes a stark elegy for the ideals of the American frontier in this quietly subversive reimagining of western myths. In the fourth of his six collaborations with the progressive director Martin Ritt, Paul Newman created his darkest role yet as Hud Bannon, a charismatic but ruthlessly unprincipled rancher. Hud’s ambition to seize control of an ailing cattle business from his tradition-bound father (Melvyn Douglas) drives the family—including his worshipful nephew (Brandon de Wilde) and worldly-wise housekeeper (Patricia Neal)—toward collapse. Winner of Academy Awards for Best Actress (Neal), Supporting Actor (Douglas), and Cinematography—courtesy of James Wong Howe, whose austere black-and-white lensing lends psychological dimension to the desolate western vistas—Hud daringly rewrites the image of the heroic cowboy for a disillusioned generation.

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
Audio excerpts from a 1974 American Film Institute seminar with director Martin Ritt
New interview with actor Sally Field, conducted by author Isaac Butler, on Ritt and Hud
New interview with cinematographer Roger Deakins on director of photography James Wong Howe
Episode of Inside the Actors Studio, hosted by James Lipton, featuring actor Paul Newman
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by author and film scholar Gabriel Miller and a 1963 American Cinematographer interview with Howe

New cover by Eric Skillman

Glad there is quite a bit about James Wong Howe, but I would’ve loved more on Larry McMurtry

Between this and Birth, Criterion seem to be working through my “most-wanted, long-overdue” list. Crazy that this one has taken this long.

Unconscionable that they did not include 4K restorations of Patricia Neal’s Anacin and Brim commercials

I rarely dig into extras, but with the exception of the Ritt interview, very little by way of extras that seem exciting. I however, have never seen this film and am excited to finally see it with this release.

Finally! We've been hearing about (the possibility of) this since the early dvd-to-blu transition days. Hopefully The Long Hot Summer isn't far behind.

The word for this is “FINALLY”! Great announcement, will surely be the first HD copy on disc to not just be an upscale too

WHo knows, maybe what they've pulled together is actually really gr8, but it really seems this label isn't trying anymore. How does one license Hud and seemingly not include a darn thing about Patricia Neal?!

Whoever makes decisions at this label these days is extremely uncomfortable with star-based extras in studio era films. I don’t know why, but this is fairly common by now (and we’re lucky to have something on Newman, the literal bare minimum). Indicator would have given us long interviews on all three stars, for sure

domino harvey wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 6:18 pm Whoever makes decisions at this label these days is extremely uncomfortable with star-based extras in studio era films

I think you're right. And isn't this a rather bizarre state of affairs for such a fancy label?

Do we think that the Sally Field interview previews Norma Rae getting a release?

There's a lot of angles to explore with this film, like also the Ravetches. I just have to imagine there are lots of people who have lots of interesting things to say about this film, and that Criterion hasn't found them. Maybe I'll be wrong!

domino harvey wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 6:18 pm Whoever makes decisions at this label these days is extremely uncomfortable with star-based extras in studio era films. I don’t know why, but this is fairly common by now (and we’re lucky to have something on Newman, the literal bare minimum). Indicator would have given us long interviews on all three stars, for sure

I really love the deep dives into actors too that we get sometimes on their editions. thinking about entries from Imogen Sara Smith and Pamela Hutchinson, as well as Kat Ellinger's piece on Claudia Cardinale for Girl With a Suitcase. it's great to have a piece that cover's the actor's background while also contextualizing the film at hand and what kind of role it might be for them. definitely an invaluable, arguably underappreciated type of piece

Episode of Inside the Actors Studio, hosted by James Lipton, featuring actor Paul Newman

Was this the inaugural episode of Actors Studio? I think it came out when Newman had just done Nobody's Fool. I've seen it several times and it's great: he has a wonderful remembrance of Orson Welles and a great anecdote about Martin Scorsese, who gives him a brutal piece of direction on the very first day of The Color of Money...

Spoiler

IIRC it may even be the first scene in the movie, but after the first take, he tells Newman to do the scene again, and then after watching him during the second take, Scorsese says "Cut....do it again, but this time, don't try to be funny." Newman said after he removed the sword out of his gut (his words), he understood what Scorsese was getting at and nailed it on the third take.

It's a good interview that covers his whole career, but it's funny to see it here because there is a moment where Newman compares his performance in Hud to The Verdict in order to illustrate what he believed were his shortcomings as a younger actor, ones he finally got past in his later years.

The bonuses on Ritt should be welcome. tbh I have strong reservations about his films (including this one) but Newman really liked working with him and it could be insightful if the extras go deep into his approach with actors.

It is the first episode.

Beloved Aunt wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 6:27 pm Do we think that the Sally Field interview previews Norma Rae getting a release?

Unless Criterion has done a deal with Disney then the answer would be no I'm afraid (I'd love Norma Rae to be released by Criterion).

Well, this release will be the 4th time I'm purchased a disc of Hud.

hearthesilence wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 9:49 pm The bonuses on Ritt should be welcome. tbh I have strong reservations about his films (including this one)

What are your reservations, hearthesilence? I've been pretty impressed with what I've seen of his work--although Hud isn't his best effort, certainly, and I do agree with Domino that Sounder is a wonderful but overrated film.

Aunt Peg wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 8:07 am

Beloved Aunt wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 6:27 pm Do we think that the Sally Field interview previews Norma Rae getting a release?

Unless Criterion has done a deal with Disney then the answer would be no I'm afraid (I'd love Norma Rae to be released by Criterion).

Well, this release will be the 4th time I'm purchased a disc of Hud.

I love Norma Rae too, but at this point I don't even really want Criterion to release it. Indicator, Arrow, and Imprint (!) would probably do a better job, and would be less likely to orange-and-teal-ify the transfer. Does Disney let anyone release films they own?

Wasn't aware you knew how every film is supposed to look. Maybe Criterion should be consulting you when they work on color grading.

Spoiler

Let's hope they don't actually.

I don't really remember saying I was an expert on such things. I merely don't trust Criterion on such matters. Doesn't mean I think I necessarily know better than them!

Let's stay on topic, please. Why are we even ranting about color grading in a thread about a black and white movie? Come on.

A heads up.... "Hud" will be on TCM tonight at 8 EDT

Beloved Aunt wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 3:48 pm

Aunt Peg wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 8:07 am

Beloved Aunt wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 6:27 pm Do we think that the Sally Field interview previews Norma Rae getting a release?

Unless Criterion has done a deal with Disney then the answer would be no I'm afraid (I'd love Norma Rae to be released by Criterion).

Well, this release will be the 4th time I'm purchased a disc of Hud.

I love Norma Rae too, but at this point I don't even really want Criterion to release it. Indicator, Arrow, and Imprint (!) would probably do a better job, and would be less likely to orange-and-teal-ify the transfer. Does Disney let anyone release films they own?

Barely. They have let Criterion release Wes Anderson films but aside from those they pretty much haven't sub-leased anything out since the merger except for previously arranged deals.

I wonder if Disney leadership is MAGA? It probably would stand to reason.

Aunt Peg wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 11:45 pm they pretty much haven't sub-leased anything out since the merger except for previously arranged deals.

Aunt Peg, do you mean, to literally anyone? Or just Criterion?

Beloved Aunt wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 11:58 pm I wonder if Disney leadership is MAGA? It probably would stand to reason.

Aunt Peg wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 11:45 pm they pretty much haven't sub-leased anything out since the merger except for previously arranged deals.

Aunt Peg, do you mean, to literally anyone? Or just Criterion?

Nobody aside from Criterion and then only very select titles (in the case of Wes Anderson he may have negotiated with Disney for Criterion to release that box set of his work - just a thought bubble of mine). I suspect by not releasing back catalogue films the steamers (well, Disney primarily) are trying to push people onto their streaming services which is pretty pointless given that physical media has become so niche now.

I would have think us collectors being able to purchase Disney/Fox films would have any impact on their streaming revenue bottom-line.

Beloved Aunt wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 3:48 pm orange-and-teal-ify

We have a thread for that! Feel free to vent here.