Paul Newman plays Hud, the hard-drinking, 'no account' son of old style, moralising ranch owner Homer (Melvyn Douglas), in this brutal contemporary Western. Hud and Homer's relationship comes to a head when the government demands the slaughter of the family's complete cattlestock in order to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth disease. Hud wants to act in defiance of the order, whereas Homer prefers to play the game and obey the government, despite the possibility of losing everything. Oscars were won by Douglas, Patricia Neal (playing the housekeeper attracted to Hud) and cinematographer James Wong Howe.