Hud Bannon, the selfish, self-centered son of veteran Texas cattleman Homer Bannon, is despised by his father, a man of staunch integrity whose philosophy of life is diametrically opposed to Hud's. Homer's bitterness in part rests on his son's responsibility for an auto accident 15 years earlier that resulted in the death of Hud's older brother; the brother's orphaned son, Lon, now 17 years old, is divided between adolescent adulation of Hud and loving respect for his grandfather. Also living on the ranch is Alma, an earthy housekeeper physically attracted to Hud but unwilling to yield to his boorish advances. One of Homer Bannon's cows is found dead, apparently from hoof-and mouth disease, and Hud suggests they sell the entire herd before a government inspector can order the cattle slaughtered; but Homer refuses and agrees to have his cows killed to protect other farmers. Hud regards the decision as proof of the old man's senility and takes steps to have his father declared mentally incompetent. Hud goes on a drunk and attempts to rape Alma, but Lon interrupts him, and Alma leaves the ranch the following day. Homer is then stricken by a fatal heart attack while riding on horseback around his deserted land. After the funeral, Lon, now fully aware of his uncle's despicable nature, decides to leave and make his own way in the world. Totally alone, Hud watches the boy depart, shrugs his shoulders, and opens a can of beer.

Director:
Martin Ritt	Director
C. C. Coleman Jr.	Assistant Director
Cast:
Paul Newman	as Hud Bannon
Melvyn Douglas	as Homer Bannon
Patricia Neal	as Alma
Brandon de Wilde	as Lon Bannon
John Ashley	as Hermy
Whit Bissell	as Burris
Crahan Denton	as Jesse
Val Avery	as Jose
Sheldon Allman	as Thompson
Pitt Herbert	as Larker
Peter Brooks	as George
Curt Conway	as Truman Peters
Yvette Vickers	as Lily Peters
George Petrie	as Joe Scanlon
David Kent	as Donald
Frank Killmond	as Dumb Billy
Carl Low	as Kirby
Don Kennedy	as Charlie Tucker
Robert Hinkle	as Announcer
Sharyn Hillyer	as Myra
Monty Montana	as Cowboys
Carl Saxe	as Proprietor
Cinematography:
James Wong Howe	Director of Photography
Rex Wimpy	2nd unit photog
Writer:
Irving Ravetch	Screenwriter
Harriet Frank Jr.	Screenwriter
Producer:
Martin Ritt	Producer
Irving Ravetch	Producer
Editing:
Frank Bracht	Film Editor
Music:
Elmer Bernstein	Music Score
Art Director:
Hal Pereira	Art Director
Tambi Larsen	Art Director
Visual Effects:
Paul K. Lerpae	Special Photography Effects
Farciot Edouart	Process Photography
Make-Up:
Wally Westmore	Makeup
Nellie Manley	Hairstyles
Costume-Wardrobe:
Edith Head	Costumes
Art Department:
Sam Comer	Set Decoration
Robert R. Benton	Set Decoration
Sound:
John Carter	Sound Recording
John Wilkinson	Sound Recording
Film Production - Main:
Lloyd Anderson	Unit Production Manager
Andrew J. Durkus	Unit Production Manager

Location scenes filmed in Texas.

Voted Best Actress (Neal) for 1963 by the New York Film Critics Association

Voted Best Actress (Neal), Best Supporting Actor (Douglas), and One of the Year's Ten Best Films by the 1963 National Board of Review.

Voted One of the Year's Ten Best Films by the 1963 New York Times Film Critics.

Winner of the Writer's Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay - drama of 1963.

Released in United States December 31, 1962

Released in United States Summer May 29, 1963

Released in United States Summer May 29, 1963

Released in United States December 31, 1962 (New York City)

Based on the novel Horseman, Pass By by Larry McMurtry (New York, 1961).

Paul Newman  won  AA-Best Actor in 1963

Patricia Neal  won  AA-Best Actress in 1963

AA-Best Art Direction in 1963

AA-Best Cinematography in 1963

Martin Ritt won  AA-Best Director in 1963

Melvyn Douglas  won  AA-Best Supporting Actor in 1963

AA-Best Writing, Screenplay in 1964