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Goin' South

Play trailer Poster for Goin' South PG Released Oct 6, 1978 1h 45m Western Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
69% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
According to the laws of the Old West town where criminal Henry Lloyd Moon (Jack Nicholson) is about to be executed, a death row convict will be spared if a reputable woman promises to mend his ways. To the annoyance of ruthless Deputy Towfield (Christopher Lloyd), Julia Tate (Mary Steenburgen) vouches for Henry and assigns him to search for gold on her land. Their relationship eventually turns romantic, but Towfield and Henry's old criminal buddies threaten their domestic bliss.
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Goin' South

Critics Reviews

View All (16) Critics Reviews
Gary Arnold Washington Post Goin' South is the most flat-footed comedy to collapse on the screen since Nickelodeon. Dec 21, 2015 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Jack Nicholson playing Gabby Hayes is interesting, even amusing at times, but Hayes was never a leading man, which Goin' South desperately needs. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Time Out Nicholson's second film as director, a wonderfully beguiling Western... Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Goin West is an Eastern comedy, very conventional, with its star constantly in the foreground. [Full review in Spanish] Aug 9, 2023 Full Review Marina Hirsch Berkeley Barb A lovingly produced parody of all shoot-em-ups, of tight-lipped Western men and camisoled, fluttery Western women. May 13, 2021 Full Review Jake Euker F5 (Wichita, KS) Rated: 3/5 Mar 9, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (124) audience reviews
Blu B It's really not that bad. I get what Jack was going for here. The acting, pacing and editing are half decent. The problems here are the humor just falls flat 95% of the time and the direction really isn't anything special, leaving a lot to be desired. This is trying to be a Rom-Com Western Hybrid which is a really unique idea. When this focuses on Moon's former gang and all it falls very flat and kills a lot of the momentum this builds up. When it just focuses on the two leads romance it's actually kind of good and the best parts. They got half decent chemistry and there quirky off kilter relationship works. The core scrpt here is good but someone needed to tell Jack to have the humor be looked at by a more trained comedic writer on top of stronger direction. Everything is pretty basic camerawise, production, sets, etc. This REALLY could've benefitted from the touch of someone like Hal Ashby as this seemed right up his alley. Also, Jack's comedic efforts here come off at times as more bizarre than flat. It's kind of like Al Pacino in Jack & Jill if that makes sense where it's so out of place and bizarre. But when he is just normal especially with Julia, he's the Jack we know. This starts off very messy and it takes quite a bit of time to get past the bizarre flat humor. Anyone who is a die hard fan of Jack or really off kilter deep cut Westerns may want to check this out. This is a candidate for a remake 100% that would work in the right hands. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/17/24 Full Review William S Hello world! Permit me to discuss how, Cyber Genie Hack Pro team assisted me in getting my forgotten crypto wallet access back. Losing access to my wallet was traumatizing and heartbreaking to my household because it was a joint wallet where I and my partner decided to save for the future instead of using all these ridiculous financial banks in the USA controlled by the Matrix.  Our precious crypto savings were on the verge of vanishing before our very before. If there is one thing I am forever grateful for in 2024 is my encounter with Cyber Genie's team. These guys didn't even let me explain my task fully, how they delved into getting solutions for me to access my crypto wallet back still wows me and my partner. There's no better way to start the new year than with the best tech team ensuring my family's data are safe on the internet. If you have any important query related to crypto funds recovery, don't hesitate to find them on:  WEB:  (https ://) cy bergeniehackpro (.) xyz/W/A:  +'1'2'5'2'5'1'2'0'3'9'1'TELLEGRAM: "cyb ergeniehackpro" Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/15/24 Full Review Audience Member Jack Nicholson stars and directs this old western He co-stars with Christopher Lloyd and this is Mary Steenburgen's debut He plays Henry Lloyd Moon, a criminal in the 1860s about to be executed A bank robber, horse, and cattle thief who's spared if according to local ordnance a woman agrees to marry him taking responsibility for his crimes Henry meets Julia Tate, who reluctantly agrees to marry him provided he can find gold on her land She of course finds him detestable but over time they both fall for each other Deputy Towfield couldn't care less about the arrangement so him being so ruthless he gathers Henry's old criminal associates to destroy their happiness There's definitely things in here that would NOT fly today given the #metoo era It's a very quiet film too relying on just the interactions of the leads plus some characters just disappear from the story once the ending reaches Yet Nicholson and Steenburgen bounce off one another to a good degree Just don't expect many shoot 'em ups Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/09/23 Full Review Mike G It is as bad a movie that was ever made. I am not sure if it is a comedy or a dramady but man it is hard to watch. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member A minor Western that's very laid back, but doesn't really add up to much. Notable as one of the three films Jack Nicholson directed; also Mary Steenburgen's screen debut. John Belushi and Danny DeVito have minor roles. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Jack Nicholson directed himself in this parody western that boasted support from Mary Steenburgen, Christopher Lloyd, Danny DeVito, Veronica Cartwright, and John Belushi. Nicholson plays an outlaw about to be hanged for rustling. A law in the town says he can be saved from death if a woman agrees to marry him. A woman volunteers, but what she really wants is a man to help her dig for gold on her property. It's fun watching the actors, but I wish Jack's outlaw was more worthy of us cheering him on, or at least justifying his predicament. But many of the madcap silliness and jokes go nowhere and the film had me checking my watch more often than I should have. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Goin' South

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Cast & Crew

Goin' South

Goin' South: Official Clip - You Ain't Taking My Gold! Goin' South: Official Clip - You Ain't Taking My Gold! 2:09 Goin' South: Official Clip - How's About A Little Dessert? Goin' South: Official Clip - How's About A Little Dessert? 1:58 Goin' South: Official Clip - Like Eggs Rolled in Sand Goin' South: Official Clip - Like Eggs Rolled in Sand 2:12 Goin' South: Official Clip - I'll Take Him Goin' South: Official Clip - I'll Take Him 2:08 Goin' South: Official Clip - Canned Apricots Goin' South: Official Clip - Canned Apricots 2:04 Goin' South: Official Clip - Kiss Me... I'm Rich! Goin' South: Official Clip - Kiss Me... I'm Rich! 2:12 Goin' South: Official Clip - Keepin' Gold From Us! Goin' South: Official Clip - Keepin' Gold From Us! 2:09 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis According to the laws of the Old West town where criminal Henry Lloyd Moon (Jack Nicholson) is about to be executed, a death row convict will be spared if a reputable woman promises to mend his ways. To the annoyance of ruthless Deputy Towfield (Christopher Lloyd), Julia Tate (Mary Steenburgen) vouches for Henry and assigns him to search for gold on her land. Their relationship eventually turns romantic, but Towfield and Henry's old criminal buddies threaten their domestic bliss.
Director
Jack Nicholson
Producer
Henry Gittes, Harold Schneider
Screenwriter
John Herman Shaner, Al Ramrus, Charles Shyer, Alan Mandel
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Western, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 6, 1978, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2011
Runtime
1h 45m
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