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Month: March 2009

Goin’ South (1978)

Goin’ South (1978)

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“I ain’t no slab of meat to be auctioned off — but what the hell!”

Synopsis:
A horse thief (Jack Nicholson) is saved from hanging by a woman (Mary Steenburgen) who agrees to marry him in exchange for his help as a laborer. Soon the two are falling in love — but when Nicholson’s old gang members learn that he’s found gold, trouble ensues.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Comedy
  • Gold Seekers
  • Jack Nicholson Films
  • John Belushi Films
  • Mary Steenburgen Films
  • Outlaws
  • Romance
  • Westerns

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary’s a fan of this “amiable comedy-western” — directed by and starring Jack Nicholson — which he notes is a “nice change of pace for western fans”. The story starts off with a humorous bang, as Nicholson’s “slovenly outlaw” — nearly across the border into Mexico — is dragged back into town for a hanging, and is saved literally in the nick of time by Steenburgen, who wants his help with mining for gold before the Big Bad Railroad wields eminent domain and takes over her land.

The bulk of the story centers on the developing romance between “the animated, bearded Nicholson” (who basically plays a variation on his “crazed iconoclast” archetype) and “stiff, reticent Steenburgen” (who’s both charming and coy in her screen debut) — but we aren’t given enough information about Steenburgen’s background (why is she so eager to move to Philadelphia with her newfound wealth?), and there are some disturbing hints of rape-like encounters between the two individuals, thus marring their development into what Peary labels “a likable couple”. In addition, a cast of soon-to-be big names (including John Belushi, Danny De Vito, and Christopher Lloyd) are given far too little screentime or character development.

Lloyd’s would-be rivalry for Steenburgen simply fizzles away, while Belushi and De Vito are relegated to roles as small-time accomplices. With that said, Goin’ South does possess some clever comedic dialogue (“I’ll never forget you, Hermine — you was the first woman I didn’t have to pay for”), and the film as a whole is bolstered by Nestor Almendros’ typically stellar cinematography.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • The humorous opening sequence
  • Mary Steenburgen as Julia Tate
  • Nestor Almendros’ cinematography

Must See?
No, but it will certainly be of interest to Nicholson fans, and is worth a look simply for Steenburgen’s charming debut.

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