Newman should have won the Oscar - Hud (1963) Discussion

[–] safeinsanity 20 years ago

I agree, Newman is so real in this film that it is scary. I knew someone in a real life that was a friend of mine who was a lot like Hud(Newman's character) and let me tell you, Newman did a fine job of portraying somebody like that.

Great film too, many words of wisdom in it.

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[–] csu16387 20 years ago

Hmmm... I don't know. Sidney Poitier was excellent in Lilies of the Field. It's a tough call because both Poitier and Newman were outstanding that year. Personally, I thought Newman should have won for The Hustler. Easily one of his best performances.

"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."

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[–] dcurry-1 20 years ago

Before he won the OSCAR (his 7th nomination ) in 1987, he said he only thought he gave the year's performance once. He wouldn't reveal the year.

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[–] detrime 20 years ago

Which do you think? The Hustler, Hud, or maybe even The Verdict? He was incredible in that.

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[–] dcurry-1 20 years ago

He thought he was going to win in 1961. Spencer Tracy/Maximilian Schell were both nominated for the same movie:Judgement at Nuremberg, he thought they would split the vote. However I think he felt he deserved it for HUD. He was too much of gentleman to say.

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[–] ladyraine 20 years ago

he is pretty amazing, as is patricia neal who did win for best actress even though her part was small (typically) to be considered for the category, she was just so natural; still though he's good friends with sidney poitier right(?) and was doing work towards the civil rights movement, along with brando, way before it became popular(of course it was always right but you know how lesser individuals become worried about public perception and let that dictate their every move), so maybe it wasn't the disappointment we may make it out to be. Still though, I would like to hear which one he sees as the one that got away :)

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[–] kag2-1 16 years ago

I'd pick Newman (HUD) over Sidney Poiter (LILIES OF THE FIELD), but Poiter was also very good, and in that civil-rights era (1963-64) Hollywood went with Poiter. But Newman clearly should have won for Eddie Felson (THE HUSTLER), and he was outstanding in COOL HAND LUKE and THE VERDICT in years when the competition was also outstanding.

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[–] sportster_16301 20 years ago

I heartily agree that Newman deserved the Oscar, but many small minds hated his character of Hud. It's a shame that the people in charge of recognizing great performances can be so easily influenced by an actor's ROLE. Now Hollywood should make amends by awarding Paul a Lifetime Acheivement Award. After all, he is one of the best actors of all time. P.S. "Hud" is my favorite movie of all time.

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[–] nick_jb007 20 years ago

Hud, The Hustler, and Cool Hand Luke. He should have received all three of those Best Actor awards. I have been wanting to see The Verdict. I just don't get it he lost those three but won for The Color of Money. Which Paul Newman is good in it but he should had that award in his hand long before then.

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[–] detrime 20 years ago

He's amazing in The Verdict too - that very well could be his best performance. Right there with the 3 you mentioned above.

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[–] jasonbourneagain 19 years ago

Is that what happened back then? I'm not surprised because stuff like that continues to happen today with the Oscar. I haven't seen Sidney Poitier's winning performance, but Newman is really good as Hud and deserves to win. It's not the type of role he's usually associated with. His pulling it off really makes it special.

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[–] anonymous124 19 years ago

ive seen both films and newman deserved the oscar. potier should have gotten it for A Patch of Blue

Deep throat...he's on deep backround, so we call him deep throat.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] detrime 19 years ago

Hud was truly one-of-a-kind. He was a bastard, knew it, and was proud of it. He did what he wanted, right or wrong (usually wrong), and for some reason I just couldn't hate him. Newman was simply amazing in this. One of the best performances of all time.

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[–] prettyD2368 15 years ago

Newman should have won for Hud. Potier should have won for The Defiant Ones or A Raisin The Sun.

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[–] ddeckerblast 19 years ago

I was not around back then to see who he was up against, but he was at his prime in that era.

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[–] irenethom 19 years ago

in response to Hud, The Verdict is also very disturbing. i mean, really. it is so profound. a work of art and arguably one of the greatest films of the 1980s. although it is very very difficult to watch as it is very depressing. who here agrees?

Paul Newman films (i have seen)

Cat on a hot tin roof 2/5
The Hustler 5/5 - i have to be honest
Cool Hand Luke 3.5/5
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 4/5
The Sting 2.5/5
The Verdict 4.5/5
Nobody's fool 3/5
Road to Peredition 2.5/5

Paul Newman films (to see soon, video recordings)

The Prize
Harper
Torn Curtain
The Drowning Pool
Slap Shot (hopefully)

Paul Newman films (i would like to see)

Somebody up there likes me
Sweet Bird of Youth
Hud
The Outrage
Absence of Malice
Fat Boy and Little Boy
Blaze
Mr & Mrs Bridge
The Hudsucker (something)
Twlight

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[–] E_D_N 19 years ago

i agree. He was superb.

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[–] irenethom 18 years ago

right, i have come back now and have made some adjustments to my previous post

Paul Newman Films (i have seen)

Cat on a hot tin roof 2/5
The Hustler 5/5
Harper 3/5
Cool Hand Luke 4/5
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 2/5
The Sting 1/5
Absence of Malice 3/5
The Verdict 5/5
The Color of Money 3/5
The Hudsucker Proxy 2/5 (at the moment)
Nobody's Fool 1/5 (didn't like the content at all, Newman's role was poorly written)
Road to Peredition 3/5

Paul Newman films (to see by the end of the year)

Somebody up there like me
The Drowning Pool (concluding part to Harper)
Hud
A long hot summer
Sweet Bird of Youth
Slap Shot
Torn Curtain (maybe, if not the first film to see next year in early January)

Paul Newman films (to see next year)

Mr & Mrs Bridge
The Outrage
The Prize
Twilight
Exodus
Blaze
Little boy and fat boy (i think that's what it is called)
Pocket Money
Sitting Bull (that Robert Altman film)

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[–] project_runway06 18 years ago

Wow, that is quite a list. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was the first Paul Newman movie I ever saw and I thought it was quite brilliant. It was slightly different from the play but still very good. And Paul Newman was really great in the movie. I've been a Paul Newman fan ever since. I would have given the movie a higher rating, at least a 3/5. And I think he should have won Oscars for the three or four films that were mentioned in the earlier post as well as for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

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[–] irenethom 18 years ago

you can now add Hud to the list i supplied. i have seen thirteen.

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[–] phowell1 18 years ago

Actually, Albert Finney was considered the front-runner that year for Tom Jones, but Poitier pulled an upset.

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[–] Blubelle0302 18 years ago

Though I wasn't around to see who he was up against then, I don't wanna sound unfair but hell, I felt that he should've won for Hud dammit. He was waaay too *beep* good at the character. I couldn't even stand to watch the movie cause I hated his character so much lol. He was by far one of the biggest *beep* I've ever seen in the history of movies and I thought Paul knocked it out the park. Especially for someone as sweet as Paul to pull that off. The only thing I saw in Hud that are in most of the characters Paul has played was his sex appeal. And I honestly think that's a natural state for Paul lol.

My picks for him to win oscars for were, A Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, Cool Hand Luke, and The Hustler. But after seeing Hud, it's a disgrace that he didn't win for that role. It's unbelievable. Anytime where Paul can make me seriously hate him, he's done a superb job. Thatisall.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] BwlBoy 17 years ago

Newman should definitely have won the Oscar for Cool Hand Luke, his best role I reckon. It was definitely a better performance than Rod Steiger in In The Heat Of The Night. Also preferred Newman in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof than Hud.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] ProfessorFate 17 years ago

I agree, "The Hustler" and "Hud" are his two best performances. The amazing thing about "Hud" is that the character as written is so unlikable, but Newman makes you identify with him and even like him. Despite his bad behavior you totally understand Alma falling for him, then kicking herself for being that stupid. The performance is a testament to Newman's screen charisma as well as his acting ability.

My favorite line:

"That's funny, I was sitting way on the other side of the room and I got a little bit encouraged."

"Push the button, Max!"

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[–] molien 16 years ago

1963 Best Actor Nominees
Albert Finney, Tom Jones
Richard Harris, This Sporting Life
Rex Harrison, Cleopatra
Paul Newman, Hud
Sidney Poitier, Lilies of the Field

No doubt, Newman should have won. 4 real strong nominees and then the bizarre nomination of Rex Harrison for the horrid "Cleopatra" is the one that shouldn't be in there. Harris and Finney were great too that year.

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[–] rudeboy_murray 16 years ago

Poitier's politically correct win is a typical Oscar move and it's hard to complain too hard for an Oscar for such a historically significant actor. But Newman's performance in Hud is one for the ages - a magnificent performance.

I also think Brandon de Wilde, who is very much a co-lead in the film, should have received a best actor nomination alongside Newman. Patricia Neal, who gave one of the very best performances ever to win a best actress Oscar, really should have been considered supporting.

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[–] wtl471629 16 years ago

I agree that Newman should have won the oscar for Hud. In fact I thought he deserved it for Cool Hand Luke too. He was good friends with Poitier and wanted Portier to win. Many think Poitier should have won it for 1858's The Defiant Ones and that this was a make up award for him.

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[–] jonchopwood 16 years ago

George C. Scott, a great actor of stage & screen and a fine stage director, was asked about Paul Newman in a 1989 PLAYBOY interview. Scott said Newman was fine in THE HUSTLER, but that anyone could have played that role, Fast Eddie Felson. Scott went on to say Newman was superb as Hud and that no one else could have played the role.

Oscars don't go to the best performance, as you've realized now. Poitier probably should have shared an Oscar with Rod Steiger for IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, if the thing was given out to reward excellence by a committee rather than just put to a vote.

The way the Oscar voting is rigged, to win a nomination is actually more of an honor to win, as the nomination process is weighted, with "weight" given for those who thought you had the 2nd best, 3rd best, etc. performance. As Jody Foster says, the name that comes out of the envelope on Oscar night is just chance. There might have been too many Brits on the ballot and you get it being the American, two actors in the same movie could split the vote, etc.

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[–] whalekerry 16 years ago

It belonged to Newman. Close to greatest performance of all time.

"I'm glad it's you." _Paul Newman (RIP)

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