The cinematography - wow. - Hud (1963) Discussion

[–] rudeboy_murray 18 years ago

I think it's one of the most beautiful black & white movies ever made. James Wong Howe's oscar winning photography is magnificent.

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[–] wrenskibaby 18 years ago

Wow is right. Every time I watch this movie I am amazed at the impact the scenes have, just the way they look. Sorry, I don't know the correct terms I should be using to describe this movie. But looking at it gives me the chills every time. Something about the lines of the men's bodies gets to me, too. Everyone looks so lean and hard and tough. And all that sky and land... it's just overwhelming. Black and white is perfect in this movie too. So stark and powerful!

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[–] caught_in_a_net 16 years ago

i agree with you completely, you described it's effect for me spot on.

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[–] JacquesDemy 17 years ago

<<<<I think it's one of the most beautiful black & white movies ever made. >>>>
I can't agree more, for me, the only comparable movie is The Night of the Hunter or Touch of Evil.

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[–] Annied70 17 years ago

I agree, I just LOVED this movie so much about 7 yrs ago was when I saw for the first time, gotta love those 2 am movies! :) I was up with the flu, it really kept me awake, it was so danged awesome!!

Of course, I purchased it on e-bay on VHS. At the time, it wasn't available on dvd. I also got a book about Patricia Neal's life "Pat and Roald", written by Barry Farrell. Wow, she sure has had a tough life. What a magnificent actress she is!

They just don't make movies like this anymore. I am only 37 but I love the older black and white movies. They beat everything!

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[–] cowboydesperado-1 17 years ago

...all those mentioned previously--plus 'In Cold Blood'

'We all dream of being a child again - even the worst of us. Perhaps the worst most of all...'

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[–] w_lebeau69 17 years ago

Just a slight correction to your post...It is the most beautiful black&white movie ever made...Indeed,James Wong Howe's oscar winning photography is magnificent.As a matter of fact,nothing evokes the endless skies of Texas as well as the photography of Mr.Howe....As a life long native,I should know.

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[–] Fellini-esque 17 years ago

It's absolutely stunning. Not only is the lighting and exposure spot-on, but the compositions are endlessly fascinating and beautiful. It's a little bit of a tough situation though, because while Hud is indeed one of the most gorgeous B&W films ever shot, it came out the same year as another one of the most gorgeous B&W films ever shot, Fellini's 8½. A bit of a conflict in decision for me, but who can complain?

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[–] Buddy-51 16 years ago

Right...what an embarrassment of riches, to have both Hud and 8 1/2 in the same year!

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[–] likedavid 16 years ago

Yes. Even though it is in black and white, Wong's photography really captured what that part of the country is like. Excellent job.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] jonchopwood 16 years ago

James Wong Howe was a master. You should see HUD on the big screen. The cow killing scene is gut wrenching. He was a master of cinematography -- how he could use that CinemaScope screen!

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"Why do people always laugh in the wrong places?"
--Oswald the Bunny

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[–] heyjohnny40-1 16 years ago

Watch "Objective Burma." Especially the last 20 minutes.(Final battle scene).

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[–] UCHoodman 15 years ago

Watching this on the big screen, the cinematography in Hud gave me an orgasm

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] SeanJoyce 13 years ago

thirdman1:

Another amazing display of B&W photography is in Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

And wouldn't ya know it...done by the same guy!

"...if that was off, I'd be whoopin' your ass up and down this street." ~ an irate Tarantino

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[–] spookyrat1 12 years ago

Yes, I 've recently seen both of them for the first time and the cinematography of each is a knockout.

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[–] fourteller 13 years ago

Agreed - this film is simply stunning to look at purely from an aesthetic viewpoint, let alone 'really' watch.

Watching this on the big screen, the cinematography in Hud gave me an orgasm

Since I saw it on TCM several years ago on a 14" TV screen, guess I only felt the equivalent of a tingle Even so, I was duly impressed at the time.

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[–] guely55 13 years ago

I remember liking this movie and the getting the VHS like 14 years ago. But i saw it on a widescreen DVD today for the first time. The beauty of the compositions draw my attention. The lights on the faces. The people against the landscapes!

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[–] JackBluegrass 11 years ago

In Martin Scorsese's After Hours DVD special features, its German cinematographer, Martin Ballhaus, was listing the filming techniques of his favorite movies.

Hud was one of those movies. He liked the lighting and overall cinematography by Howe in Hud. So many rural scenes were during night, when artificial lighting had to be used. However, that lighting was never obvious and appeared "normal" for the situation, despite being impossible to film in reality.

The mark of a master.

Stupid!?! I never called you stupid! To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people!

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[–] DracTarashV 11 years ago

Aesthetically, "Hud" is truly a remarkable piece of work. It's really one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen.

What do you think the teacher's gonna look like this year?

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[–] talisencrw 10 years ago

I saw this for the first time and have to concur. The cinematography was very unique and simply eye-popping. 10/10 for sure! =)

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