Trivia / Hud

• Creator's Favorite Episode: Cinematographer James Wong Howe considered his work on the film to be his best.
• Deleted Role: John Ashley had a role, but it was mostly removed during the edit process.
• Deleted Scene: Patricia Neal's favorite scene—Alma telling Lonnie he'll "just have to ask someone else" what life is all about—was cut from the final print.
• Method Acting: Paul Newman's commitment to the character spilled over into off-camera moments. One such incident involved the rare opportunity for him and Patricia Neal to hang out poolside at their motel. Neal found herself opening up emotionally about her daughter Olivia, who had died suddenly just months earlier of measles encephalitis. After her long outpouring, Newman stared at her for a long moment, then simply uttered "tough" and walked away. She was taken aback by his reaction. It was early in production, and they had not yet done a major scene together, so she hadn't really gotten to know him well or to understand his methods. Later on in the shoot, however, she realized he was already very much in character as Hud.
• Throw It In!: Patricia Neal was particularly proud of one unscripted moment that made it into the film. While talking to Hud about her failed marriage, a huge horsefly flew onto the set. Just as she says she's "done with that cold-blooded bastard," she zaps the fly with a dish towel. Martin Ritt loved it and printed the take.
• Working Title: The film was initially called Wild Desire, followed by The Winners, Hud Bannon Against the World, Hud Bannon and finally Hud.

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