Hud Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Hud Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 3, 2026

Martin Ritt's "Hud" (1963) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include new program with actress Sally Field; new program with cinematographer Roger Deakins; archival program with Paul Newman; and archival program with Martin Ritt. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The Bannons

Note: The text below was previously used in our review of Australian label Imprint Films' release of Hud, published in 2025.

Many people have argued that Paul Newman, after being nominated for one, should have won an Oscar statuette for his performance in Martin Ritt’s Hud. I disagree. I think that the Academy members were right to award an Oscar statuette to Melvin Douglas, who is brilliant and the undisputed star of Hud. (Ironically, Douglas’ Oscar statuette came from the Best Actor in a Supporting Role category). Newman’s performance is quite inconsistent, frequently creating the impression that, where appropriate, it channels plenty of what made several James Dean and Marlon Brando characters famous. To be clear, Newman still looks good in front of Ritt’s camera, but it is always obvious that he is playing a scripted character. Douglas instantly becomes the old-timer who must adapt or lose everything he has worked for his entire life.

Douglas’ old-timer is Texas rancher and widower Homer Bannon, who has just discovered that one of his cows has died from a mysterious illness. When a government expert confirms to him that it is the worst kind of illness, for which there is no cure, and his entire cattle stock must be eliminated to prevent it from spreading to other ranches in the area, the old-timer declares that he will not consider becoming an oilman -- the only other legitimate option for him to continue operating the ranch. Homer then clashes with his rebellious and destructive son, Hud (Newman), who has repeatedly urged him to sell as many of the sick cows as possible before the diagnosis is confirmed, and with his level-headed grandson, Lonnie (Brandon de Wilde), close to him, begins reevaluating his past. Before the cattle stock is eliminated, the old-timer suffers a stroke, Hud attempts to rape the ranch’s hard-working maid (Patricia Neal), and Lonnie concludes that there is no future for him in Texas.

Despite a few small changes, Hud accurately retells a story from Larry McMurtry’s novel Horsman, Pass By, which was published a few years earlier. However, because of how the drama is recreated cinematically, it does not feel wrong to consider Hud an original project.

The catalyst of the drama is Newman’s character, who very quickly evolves into the ultimate irredeemable human being. However, while visually impressive and difficult to forget, this character does not always appear authentic. For example, there are several sequences in which his unhinged behavior, defined by cynical outbursts and violent acts, looks carefully scripted, almost as if to impress a crucial segment of the audience. Douglas’ character, the main buffer for it, effortlessly moves through the drama and never leaves the impression that his path and actions are scripted. For this reason, some of the crucial contrasts that the drama produces repeatedly shift the tone and atmosphere of Hud in opposite directions.

In a new program, Illeana Douglas argues that Hud channels political revelations about Texas, its economy, and the state’s inevitable transformation. Hud is free of politics. It is a character study in which three men, representing three generations, have their lives permanently reset by an unfortunate event. Neither their philosophies of life, each unique and deeply flawed, nor their actions are in any way reflective of Texas and its present or future politics.

Ritt worked with cinematographer James Wong Howe, who also won an Oscar statuette. The third and final winner was Neal, whose Oscar statuette came from the Best Actress in a Leading Role category.

Hud Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a1080p transfer, Hud arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this release:

"This new 4K restoration was created from the 35mm original camera negative. A 35mm print provided by Paramount Pictures was used as a color reference. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm magnetic track.

Mastering supervisors: Lee Kline, Giles Sherwood.
Colorist: Gregg Garvin/Roundabout Entertainment, Burbank, CA.
Image restoration: Resillion, New York.
Audio restoration: The Criterion Collection."

The 4K restoration of Hud is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack release. I viewed the 4K restoration, in its entirety, on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray.

Last year, Australian label Imprint Films produced this release of Hud, which is the only other high-definition release of the film I have in my library. Unfortunately, it was sourced from a weak master with numerous issues. I thought that this master was unsuitable for a proper high-definition release of Hud.

On my system, the native 4K and 1080p presentations revealed equally dramatic improvements. For example, the 4K restoration eliminates some very small but still easy to spot by trained eyes stretching that was present on the previous master. Delineation, clarity, and depth are super in all areas that I tested as well. The wider panoramic shots had some of the most obvious improvements, but close-ups now look much, much better as well. One of several big reasons close-ups look so striking now is the superior grayscale. On my system, all black varieties looked lush but not crushed, and all grays and whites appeared wonderfully balanced. These improvements strengthen the dynamic range of the visuals in native 4K and 1080p. There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks very healthy now as well. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Hud Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the new 4K restoration of Hud, in its entirety, on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. The comments below are from our review of the combo pack release.

The Mono track on the Australian release of Hud that I have in my library is very nice. It does not have any serious age-related issues. However, from time to time, it reveals small unevenness. Some of this unevenness is also present on this newly restored track. However, there is fullness and roundness now that makes some transitions better. Still, I think that any meaningful improvements will be very difficult to spot without direct comparisons.

Hud Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Martin Ritt - on February 23, 1974, Martin Ritt participated in a Harold Lloyd Masters Seminar at the American Film Institute, conducted by James Powers, Leroy Macdonald, and Ted Lange. Presented here is an audio excerpt from the event in which Ritt discusses the production of Hud and work with Paul Newman, as well as his directing methods. In English, not subtitled. (42 min).

• Sally Field and Isaac Butler - in this new program, Sally Field comments on her professional relationship with Martin Ritt and Paul Newman, and discusses Hud. (Ritt directed Field in Norma Rae, which earned the former an Oscar statuette). The program was produced for Criterion in 2026. In English, not subtitled. (34 min).

• Roger Deakins - in this new program, Roger Deakins discusses the career and work of cinematographer James Wong Howe, who lensed Hud. The program was produced for Criterion in 2026. In English, not subtitled. (21 min).

• Inside the Actors Studio: "Paul Newman" - presented here is an episode of the Bravo television series Inside the Actors Studio, hosted by James Lipton. In this episode, Paul Newman discusses his career and contribution to various films, including Hud. (Later in the program, Newman has some quite interesting and funny comments about his work with Marty Scorsese on The Color of Money). The episode was broadcast on August 14, 1994. In English, not subtitled. (42 min).

• Booklet - an illustrated booklet featuring critic Gabriel Miller's essay "No place for Heroes" and 1963 American Cinematographer interview with cinematographer James Wong Howe, as well as technical credits.

Hud Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Homer Bannon is like Alvin Straight, a very special, authentic old-timer whose unique, unbreakable bond with the land where he was born and will die is the biggest and most important part of his identity. However, in Hud, there are two more Bannons, and many people have argued over the years that one of them, played by Paul Newman, overshadows the old-timer. I disagree. Newman looks predictably good before the camera, but he remains a cinematic character. Melvyn Douglas instantly becomes the old-timer, a real human being, flawlessly representing a generation whose time is coming to an end. Criterion's Blu-ray presents a great new 4K restoration of Hud, together with a wonderful new program featuring Sally Field. The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack release. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.