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Goin' South

Play trailer Poster for Goin' South PG,  1978,  1h 48m,  Western/ Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 71% 14 Reviews Tomatometer 49% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
71% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
According to the laws of the Old West town where criminal Henry Lloyd Moon 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, Julia Tate 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.

Critics Reviews

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Gary Arnold Washington Post Dec 21, 2015
Goin' South is the most flat-footed comedy to collapse on the screen since Nickelodeon. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
Jack Nicholson playing Gabby Hayes is interesting, even amusing at times, but Hayes was never a leading man, which Goin' South desperately needs. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Aug 9, 2023
Goin West is an Eastern comedy, very conventional, with its star constantly in the foreground. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Marina Hirsch Berkeley Barb May 13, 2021
A lovingly produced parody of all shoot-em-ups, of tight-lipped Western men and camisoled, fluttery Western women. Go to Full Review
Jake Euker F5 (Wichita, KS) Mar 9, 2006
3/5
Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Oct 15, 2005
4/5
Jack Nicholson is hilarious in this underrated comedy Western. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ron W Feb 4, 2017 Texas, shortly after the Civil War. Henry Moon is an outlaw, on the run from the law. He is captured trying to escape to Mexico and taken back to town to be hanged. The town has a special law that a condemned man can walk free if one of the single women of the town offer to marry him. Henry is in luck - at the last moment Julia Tate offers to marry him, and pretty soon they are married. However, Henry soon discovers that Julia's motives are purely business-orientated - she needs someone to work the mine on her property. This makes for a very cold marriage... Ostensibly a comedy-western, but not overly funny. Has its moments, but many of the attempts at humour are of a slapstick nature and end up rather silly. Had some potential as a drama, exploring and developing the relationship between Henry and Julia, but this is pretty basic and predictable. Some pretty big names in the cast: Jack Nicholson, Mary Steenburgen (in her first movie), John Belushi, Christopher Lloyd, Ed Begley Jr and Danny DeVito (in a minor role). Unfortunately the movie does not come close to making full use of their talents. Even Nicholson seems unconvincing, even hammy at times. Why John Belushi was even in the movie was beyond me - he doesn't have much screen time and his performance mostly consists of insane laughter and ramblings. Considering how he tended to find inspiration, I reckon that, during the filming of the movie, he did more lines off-screen than had lines on-screen... Belushi's presence might also explain Nicholson's persistent nasally way of talking in the movie... See more
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Goin' South

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Goin' South

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

Synopsis According to the laws of the Old West town where criminal Henry Lloyd Moon 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, Julia Tate 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 48m
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