Goin' South (1978)

Director:

Jack Nicholson

Writers:

John Herman Shaner (story) &
Al Ramrus (story) ...

Release Date:

6 October 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Tagline:

Saved from the hangman, for a fate worse than death!

Plot:

Henry Moon is captured for a capital offense by a posse when his horse quits while trying to escape to Mexico...

Plot Keywords:

Saved From Hanging | Black Comedy | Love Hate | Sexual | Virgin

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Jack Nicholson	...	Henry Lloyd Moon
Mary Steenburgen	...	Julia Tate / Moon
Christopher Lloyd	...	Deputy Towfield
John Belushi	...	Deputy Hector
Richard Bradford	...	Sheriff Andrew Kyle
Veronica Cartwright	...	Hermine, Moon's Old Gang
Jeff Morris	...	Big Abe, Moon's Old Gang
Danny DeVito	...	Hog, Moon's Old Gang
Tracey Walter	...	Coogan, Moon's Old Gang
Gerald H. Reynolds	...	Polty, Rail Road Manager
Luana Anders	...	Lorette Anderson
George W. Smith	...	Mr. Anderson
Lucy Lee Flippin	...	Diane Haber
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Whitey Haber
Maureen Byrnes	...	Mrs. Warren

Runtime:

105 min | USA:109 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Mono)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Finland:K-16 | Norway:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Durango, Mexico

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Jack Nicholson original want to direct and star in Moon Trap. The only studio offer the deal was United Artist, which volunteered $2-3 million (only if Nicholson would star in the film). But Nicholson didn't want to star in the film. He insisted the film was logistically too ambitious for him to divide his attention between acting and directing. His acting fee was over $1 million per picture. He volunteered to play Webb the grizzle old goat-to cover himself in gray hair and matted beard. But over the time George C. Scott,Lee Marvin,Marlon Brando, Jon Voight and Dennis Hopper were approached to play Webb. The movie was screenplay by Alan Sharpe. So Nicholson dropped the project and turned his attention to Goin' South.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Moon is on the gallows to be hanged, but the gallows has a solid platform with no visible trap door.

Quotes:

Deputy Towfield: [of Moon's marriage] It's bad, huh?
Henry Moon: Like eggs rolled in sand.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 53rd Annual Academy Awards (1981) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Scarf Dance

A Rare Movie That Deserves Seeing Again and Again !

I rarely see the same movie more than once. Although I love movies, repeated viewings tend to be tedious and boring. Not so this wonderful picture which was Jack Nicholson's directing debut. I watch Going' South over and over and find something new each time. I believe that is one mark of a well-made and well-written movie.

From the opening scenes with Moon's horse keeling over as he dances celebrating his "get away" to the tender moments between Moon and Julia after they divide up the gold, I find this movie gives and keeps on giving.

Henry Moon's lines are hilarious and delivered only as Jack can do. Mary Steenburgen delivers a performance as good as any first time to the screen and the other characters are played wonderfully by current and soon-to-be stars of TV and cinema.

I love turning people on to this movie. I never get tired of watching it-I bet you won't either!