Editing Hud (1963 film) (section)

==Plot==
Hud is the ambitious, self-centered son of deeply principled Texas rancher Homer Bannon. Lonnie, teenaged orphan son of Hud's elder brother Norman, looks up to both men, but is most impressed by Hud. Both young men are attracted to the Bannons' earthy housekeeper, Alma. Although she finds Hud physically attractive, Alma keeps her distance because she has been mistreated in the past by self-centered men.

[[File:Hud (film) 2.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Man kissing a woman from behind, with his arms aggressively around her neck|Hud ([[Paul Newman]]) "courts" Alma ([[Patricia Neal]])]]
 
After one of their cows suddenly dies, Homer sends Lonnie to town to bring Hud to the ranch for his opinion.  Lonnie finds Hud, only to have his wastrel uncle shift the blame onto him for his tryst with a married woman. Back at the ranch, Hud drives over Alma's flowers. He shoots several buzzards to scare the flock away from the dead cow, against his father's protestations that they keep the land clean and killing them is illegal.  True to form, Hud claims immunity to laws that inconvenience him. Hud is annoyed by his father's decision to summon the state veterinarian, pushing for unloading the cattle to unsuspecting neighbors before the news spreads; otherwise, government agents will kill the entire herd and destroy everything they have worked for. He blames his father for not realizing that the Mexican herd he recently purchased was sick before he bought them. Homer is revolted by Hud's suggestions. After a quick inspection the veterinarian immediately [[quarantine]]s the ranch for a possible outbreak of [[foot-and-mouth disease]]. Aware that a positive test may cost him everything, Homer nevertheless complies.

One night Hud takes Lonnie out drinking, with the pair proving a successful tag-team in a barroom brawl. Back at the ranch Hud regales how he and Lonnie's father did the same thing as kids, revealing in a rare unguarded moment his role in the death of his brother and his father's antipathy toward him. When they enter the house, Homer confronts Hud, accusing him of trying to corrupt Lonnie. They argue, with Hud accusing Homer of hypocrisy and resentment of him for causing Norman's death. Homer replies that his disappointment in Hud began long before that, over his caring for no one and nothing but himself. Hurt and angry, Hud retorts that his Mama loved him, but she died. When Lonnie tells Homer that he was too hard on Hud and other people behave like him, Homer replies that one day Lonnie will have to decide for himself what is right and wrong.

[[File:Hud (film) 1.jpg|thumb|250px|alt=Younger man glares at older one, as adolescent boy watches|Homer ([[Melvyn Douglas]]) confronts Hud, as Lonnie ([[Brandon deWilde]]) looks on]]

After learning from Lonnie that Hud is trying to have him declared incompetent and seize the ranch, Homer confronts a drunken Hud.  Homer asserts he will lose. He admits that he made mistakes raising Hud, and was too hard on him. When Hud accuses him of having a "shape up or ship out" policy, Homer wonders aloud how a man like Hud can be his son and storms off to his room. Hud, drunk and angry, goes to Alma's room and attempts to rape her before Lonnie comes to her aid.

When the Bannon's herd tests positive for foot-and-mouth, the veterinarian orders it to be destroyed and buried on the ranch under state supervision to keep the disease from spreading. Hud suggests selling some leases to drill for untapped oil on their land to keep the ranch profitable, but Homer refuses, stating he only has pride in what he earns through hard work with his own hands.

After the cattle have been killed, the state veterinarian and his assistant drive up to the ranch and notice that two Longhorns are still alive, a single pair of a dying breed Homer keeps for sentimental reasons. The assistant gets his rifle, with the intention of killing them.  Homer stops him and tells him he will take care of it himself. The assistant curtly expresses doubts Homer will be able to go through with it. Hud soundly defends his father's word, snapping, "He just said he would."

Having had her fill of drama, Alma decides to leave the ranch. After Lonnie drops her off at the bus stop, Hud sees her waiting. He apologizes for his drunken behavior, but not for his attraction to her, saying he would remember her as "the one who got away". Driving back to the ranch Lonnie finds his grandfather lying on the side of the road, having fallen from his horse while surveying the ranch. Hud drives up, but despite their efforts Homer dies.

Lonnie is disgusted by Hud's treatment of Homer and Alma and pulls stakes after his grandfather's funeral, uncertain if he will ever return. After Lonnie tells his uncle to put his half of their inheritance in the bank, Hud replies that Lonnie now sees him as Homer did. As Lonnie walks away, Hud, now alone, retreats into the family house.